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Unit 112 · Adjectives and adverbs

even

Study

A

Study this example situation:

Tina loves watching TV. She has a television in every room of the house, even the bathroom.

We use even to say that something is unusual or surprising. It is not usual to have a television in the bathroom.

Some more examples:

›

These pictures are really awful. Even I take better pictures than these. (and I’m certainly not a good photographer)

›

He always wears a coat, even in hot weather.

›

The print was very small. I couldn’t read it, even with glasses.

›

Nobody would help her, not even her best friend. or

›

Not even her best friend would help her.

B

You can use even with the verb in the middle of a sentence (see Unit 110):

›

Laura has travelled all over the world. She’s even been to the Antarctic.

›

They are very rich. They even have their own private jet.

You can use even with a negative (not even, can’t even, don’t even etc.):

›

I can’t cook. I can’t even boil an egg. (and boiling an egg is very easy)

›

They weren’t very friendly to us. They didn’t even say hello.

›

Jessica is very fit. She’s been running quite fast and she’s not even out of breath.

C

You can use even + comparative (cheaper / more expensive etc.):

›

I got up very early, but Jack got up even earlier.

›

I knew I didn’t have much money, but I have even less than I thought.

›

We were very surprised to get an email from her. We were even more surprised when she came to see us a few days later.

D

We use even though / even when / even if + subject + verb:

›

Even though Tina can’t drive, she has a car.

subject + verb

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He never shouts, even when he’s angry.

›

This river is dangerous. It’s dangerous to swim in it, even if you’re a strong swimmer.

We do not use even + subject + verb. We say:

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Even though she can’t drive, she has a car. (not even she can’t drive)

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I can’t reach the shelf even if I stand on a chair. (not even I stand)

Compare even if and even (without if):

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It’s dangerous to swim here even if you’re a strong swimmer. (not even you are)

›

The river is dangerous, even for strong swimmers.

Compare even if and if:

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We’re going to the beach tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like. We’re going even if the weather is bad.

›

We want to go to the beach tomorrow, but we won’t go if the weather is bad.

➜ if and when ➜ Unit 25D · though / even though ➜ Unit 113E

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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112.1

Amy, Kate and Lisa are three friends who went on holiday together. Use the information given about them to complete the sentences using even or not even.

  1. 1
    They stayed at a hotel. Everybody liked it, Kate.example
  2. 2
    They arranged to meet. They all arrived on time, Lisa.
  3. 3
    They went to an art gallery. Nobody enjoyed it, Amy.
  4. 4
    Yesterday they had to get up early. They all managed to do this, Lisa.
  5. 5
    They were together yesterday. They were all in a good mood, Kate.
  6. 6
    None of them took any pictures, Lisa.
112.2

Make sentences with even. Use the words in brackets.

  1. 1
    Laura has been all over the world. (the Antarctic)
    She has to the Antarctic.example
  2. 2
    We painted the whole room. (the floor)
    We the floor.
  3. 3
    Rachel has met lots of famous people. (the prime minister)
    She the prime minister.
  4. 4
    You could hear the noise from a long way away. (from the next street)
    You from the next street.
  5. 5
    Now make sentences with a negative + even (didn’t even, can’t even etc.).
    They hello.example
  6. 6
    I can’t remember anything about her. (her name)
    I her name.
  7. 7
    There isn’t anything to do in this town. (a cinema)
    There a cinema.
  8. 8
    He didn’t tell anybody where he was going. (his wife)
    He his wife (where he was going).
  9. 9
    I don’t know anyone in our street. (my neighbours)
    I my neighbours.
112.3

Complete the sentences using even + comparative.

  1. 1
    It was very hot yesterday, but today it’s .example
  2. 2
    The church is 700 years old, but the house next to it is .
  3. 3
    That’s a very good idea, but I’ve got an one.
  4. 4
    The first question was very difficult to answer. The second one was .
  5. 5
    I did very badly in the exam, but most of my friends did .
  6. 6
    Neither of us was hungry. I ate very little and my friend ate .
112.4

Complete the sentences. Choose from: if even even if even though

ifeveneven ifeven though
  1. 1
    she can’t drive, she has a car.example
  2. 2
    The bus leaves in five minutes, but we can still catch it we run.
  3. 3
    The bus leaves in two minutes. We won’t catch it now we run.
  4. 4
    Mark’s Spanish isn’t very good, after three years in Spain.
  5. 5
    Mark’s Spanish isn’t very good, he lived in Spain for three years.
  6. 6
    with the heating on, it was cold in the house.
  7. 7
    I couldn’t sleep I was very tired.
  8. 8
    I won’t forgive them for what they did, they apologise.
  9. 9
    I hadn’t eaten anything for 24 hours, I wasn’t hungry.