4.60 'never'

'Never' is used to say that something was not or will not ever be the case.

When it is used with a verb group which contains an auxiliary verb, 'never' is put after the first verb in the verb group and in front of the main verb.

• I would never trust my judgement again.
• ...a type of glass which is rare and is never used.
• The number of people who died will never be known.
• Thirty years ago, the man was never expected to wash the dishes or help with the children.
• I had never been to this big town before.
• I've never done so much work in all my life.

However, you can put 'never' in front of the first word in the verb group in order to emphasize the negative aspect of a statement.

• I never would have guessed if he hadn't told me.
• There was no such person --- there never had been.