Saying "ever" in Spanish

Question

For example:

"All I ever wanted was...", or "I don't think I'll ever find someone"

"Lo único que quería jamás era...", "No creo que encuentre a nadie nunca".

Are these right?

Thanks.

Answer 1

In English, 'ever' might have a negative or a positive connotation, it is used in a negative context only if there is a negative already within the sentence. Otherwise, 'never' is used.

In Spanish:

ever = siempre or 'nunca' (if next to a negative)

never = nunca

Keep in mind that proper translation is not always literal translation...!

"All I ever wanted..." = "Lo que siempre he querido..."

"I don't think I'll ever find someone" = "No creo que jamás encuentre a alguien"

¿Más ejemplos...?

"I will be here for ever" = "Estaré aquí para siempre" (pos.)

"I have not ever seen her" = "Nunca la he visto" (neg.)

Buena suerte...!

Thanks :) - TheSilentHero, Jun 23, 2011

Answer 2

I would say:

All I ever wanted is:

todo lo que siempre he querido es .......

I don't think I'll ever find someone

No creo que nunca vaya a encontrar a alguien

subjunctive :) - Deanski, Jun 22, 2011

hey snap, I must have been editing when you were commenting je je - glad it's starting to click - after I posted something was niggling in my brain, no creo que - now is that subjunctive?? jeje and I decided it was lol - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 22, 2011

Answer 3

Ever , in English becomes very tricky in Spanish, each situation requires a different word

I am going to offer this reference to help you

link text

Thanks for that link, it'll be useful. - TheSilentHero, Jun 23, 2011

Answer 4

I can only tell you as a person that speaks a bit and hears a bit.

"Lo único que quería jamás era...", - sentence sounds really good to me without that jamás.... (Lo único que quería era) but I would be more likely to say "en toda mi vida". I can't tell you if jamás can work like that but I haven't heard it like that.

"No creo que encuentre a nadie nunca". I would be more likely to say "No creo que encuentre nunca a nadie" but I think it sounds OK either way. I don't personally see a reason to bring IR into it but I guess you could but I think it sounds better without it.