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Never vs Any - What's the difference?

never | any |

As adverbs the difference between never and any

is that never is at no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance while any is to even the slightest extent, at all.

As a determiner any is

at least one; of at least one kind. One at all.

As a pronoun any is

any thing(s) or person(s).

never

English

(wikipedia never)

Adverb

(-)
  • At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.
  • * 1634 , (w), (John Fletcher), , Act 2, Scene 4,
  • Why should I love this Gentleman? Tis odds / He never will affect me;
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.}}
  • * 1908 , (Lucy Maud Montgomery), , Chapter XXI: A New Departure in Flavorings,
  • "I never thought you were so fond of Mr. Phillips that you'd require two handkerchiefs to dry your tears just because he was going away," said Marilla.
  • * 1919 , B. G. Jefferis, J. L. Nichols, ,
  • Never speak of the symptoms of your patient in his presence, unless questioned by the doctor, whose orders you are always to obey implicitly .
  • Not at any other time; not on any other occasion; not previously.
  • * 1601 Novenber 30, (Elizabeth I of England), ,
  • There is no jewel, be it of never so rich a price, which I set before this jewel: I mean your love.
  • * 1813 , (Jane Austen), , Chapter 4,
  • "He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"
  • * 1908 , (Lucy Maud Montgomery), , Chapter XIII: The Delights of Anticipation,
  • I never saw such an infatuated man.
  • (colloquial) Negative particle (used to negate verbs in the simple past tense; also used absolutely ).
  • Antonyms

    * always

    Derived terms

    * better late than never * I have never * never again * never-ending * never ever * never in a month of Sundays * never mind * nevermore * neverness * never say never * nevertheless * now or never * on the never never * you never know

    Statistics

    *

    any

    English

    (wikipedia any)

    Alternative forms

    * anie (obsolete)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • To even the slightest extent, at all.
  • I will not remain here any longer.
    If you get any taller, you'll start having to duck through doorways!
  • * 1934 , edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 58:
  • I wasn't any too easy in my mind.

    Determiner

    (en determiner)
  • At least one; of at least one kind. One at all.
  • :
  • *Bible, (w) xi. 27
  • *:No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts,
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}
  • No matter what kind.
  • :
  • *
  • *:This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking. In complexion fair, and with blue or gray eyes, he was tall as any Viking, as broad in the shoulder.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.}}

    Derived terms

    * any and all * any old * any press is good press * any time * anybody * anyhow * anymore * anyone * anyplace * anyroad * anything * anytime * anyway * anywhen * anywhence * anywhere * anywhither * anywho * anywhom * in any case * just any

    See also

    * some

    Pronoun

    (head)
  • Any thing(s) or person(s).
  • Any may apply.

    Statistics

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