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Using never in interrogative sentences

 
 
haryad
 
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 02:29 pm
is that sentence correct: Have you never read the letter yet?
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Type: Question • Score: 5 • Views: 1,140 • Replies: 9
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Ragman
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  2  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 02:34 pm
@haryad,
I would use ever rather than never. Also I'd leave off yet.

Better still ... I'd say:

Have you not read the letter yet?
haryad
 
  1  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 02:36 pm
@Ragman,
thanks for ur reply.is that wrong to use never. why we can say havent you read the letter yet but we cant say have you never read the letter yet
dalehileman
 
  1  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 02:43 pm
@haryad,
Quote:
Have you never read the letter yet?

Not colloquial. Technically don't know if correct, but "never" and "yet" strike one as redundant. We'd say instead:

"Have you not read the letter yet?" or
"Haven't you read the letter yet?"

…..though you can omit "yet" as redundant

"Have you never read the letter?" is probably okay, while

"You never read the letter?" is also colloquial
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PUNKEY
 
  1  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 02:47 pm
Him: Wow, look at that beautiful building!
Her: Have you never seen that before? It's been here for over 120 years.

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dalehileman
 
  1  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 02:49 pm
@Ragman,
Quote:
I would use ever rather than never.
Only though, as you suggest, omitting "yet"

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dalehileman
 
  1  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 02:51 pm
@haryad,
Quote:
why…...cant say have you never read the letter yet
The "yet" seems unnecessary Har, or redundant
haryad
 
  0  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 03:15 pm
@dalehileman,
what about : I have never read a book yet. is yet still redundant. Thanks
roger
 
  1  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 04:07 pm
@haryad,
No. "I have never read a book" means just what it says. "I have never read a book yet" kind of implies you might read a book sometime in the future.

Personally, I would more likely say "I have not read a book"
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dalehileman
 
  1  
Reply Sat 2 Feb, 2013 05:19 pm
@haryad,
Quote:
I have never read a book yet. is yet still redundant.
Roger is right, the "yet" implies an intention someday, but awkward. Better, "I haven't yet read a book"
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