Use even to mark something as unusual or surprising. It goes with the verb, with a negative, with a comparative, and in even though, even when and even if.
A even: something surprising
Dot is very keen on gardening. She has plants in every room of the house, even the bathroom.
We use even to say that something is unusual or surprising. Most people do not keep a fern beside the bath, and fewer still talk to it.
- This cake is dreadful. Even I could bake a better one. (and I am no baker)
- She wears sunglasses, even in December.
- We were right at the back. I couldn't see the stage, even with binoculars.
- Nobody remembered his birthday, not even his mum.
- Not even his mum remembered his birthday.
B even with the verb, and not even
Even can go with the verb in the middle of the sentence (see Unit 110).
It is also used with a negative: not even, can't even, didn't even, isn't even etc. This says that not even the easiest or most basic thing happened.
- Marcus has run marathons all over the world. He's even run one at the North Pole.
- They're very well off. They even own a racehorse.
- Ian can't sing. He can't even hum in tune. (and humming in tune is not hard)
- The waiter wasn't very helpful. He didn't even bring us a menu.
- Anya is very fit. She's just run up four flights of stairs and she isn't even out of breath.
C even + comparative
Use even with a comparative (even earlier, even smaller, even more surprised) to say that the second thing goes further than the first, which was already notable.
- I left work early, but Lucy left even earlier.
- I knew the flat was small, but it's even smaller than I thought.
- We were amazed when he rang. We were even more amazed when he turned up at the door the next day.
D even though, even when, even if
Use even though / even when / even if + subject + verb.
Even on its own is not followed by a subject and verb: Even though he can't swim, not Even he can't swim.
Compare even if (+ subject + verb) and even (+ a noun or phrase):
| even if + subject + verb | even + phrase |
|---|---|
| This road is dangerous, even if you're an experienced cyclist. | This road is dangerous, even for experienced cyclists. |
Compare even if and if. With even if, the condition changes nothing. With if, it changes everything.
- Even though Ravi can't swim, he loves the seaside.
- She never complains, even when she's ill.
- Stay away from the cliff edge, even if you think it's safe.
- Even though he can't swim, he goes sailing every summer. (not even he can't swim)
- I can't open this jar even if I use both hands. (not even I use)
- We're having the barbecue tomorrow, whatever happens. We're having it even if it rains.
- We'd like a barbecue tomorrow, but we won't have one if it rains.
Exercises
112.1 Rosie, Fiona and Megan went away for a week together. Rosie loves jazz, is a keen swimmer, likes getting up early and is usually cheerful. Fiona usually hates camping, is usually grumpy, is never late and is not interested in music. Megan is almost always late, finds it very hard to get up in the morning, loves camping and cannot swim. Complete the sentences using even or not even.
They went camping. Everybody enjoyed it, even Fiona.
They went camping. Everybody enjoyed it, even Fiona.
They agreed to meet at the station at eight. They were all on time, .
They agreed to meet at the station at eight. They were all on time, even Megan.
They went to a jazz concert. Nobody enjoyed it, .
They went to a jazz concert. Nobody enjoyed it, not even Rosie.
One morning they had to be up at five. They all managed it, .
One morning they had to be up at five. They all managed it, even Megan.
They spent the whole day together yesterday. They were all in a good mood, .
They spent the whole day together yesterday. They were all in a good mood, even Fiona.
They went to the lake, but none of them went in the water, .
They went to the lake, but none of them went in the water, not even Rosie.
112.2 Write a sentence with even, using the words in brackets. For items 5 to 9, use a negative with even (didn't even, can't even, isn't even etc.).
Callum will eat anything. (snails)
He'll even eat snails.
He'll even eat snails.
We cleaned the whole house. (the windows)
We even cleaned the windows.
Bev has met lots of famous people. (the King)
She's even met the King.
You could smell the bonfire from miles away. (from the motorway)
You could even smell it from the motorway.
She didn't give us anything to eat. (a biscuit)
She didn't even give us a biscuit.
She didn't even give us a biscuit.
I can't remember anything about the film. (its title)
I can't even remember its title.
There isn't anything to do in this village. (a pub)
There isn't even a pub.
She didn't tell anybody she was leaving. (her best friend)
She didn't even tell her best friend.
I don't know anybody at work. (the people in my office)
I don't even know the people in my office.
112.3 Complete the sentences using even + a comparative.
It was cold last night, but tonight it's even colder.
It was cold last night, but tonight it's even colder.
The castle is eight hundred years old, but the church next to it is .
The castle is eight hundred years old, but the church next to it is even older.
That's a clever plan, but I've got an one.
That's a clever plan, but I've got an even better one.
The first hill was very steep. The second one was .
The first hill was very steep. The second one was even steeper.
I played badly on Saturday, but the rest of the team played .
I played badly on Saturday, but the rest of the team played even worse.
Neither of us had much money. I had very little and my brother had .
Neither of us had much money. I had very little and my brother had even less.
112.4 Complete the sentences with if, even, even if or even though.
___ Ravi can't swim, he loves the seaside.
Even though
Even though Ravi can't swim, he loves the seaside.
The shop shuts in ten minutes, but we can still get there ___ we hurry.
The shop shuts in ten minutes, but we can still get there if we hurry.
The shop shuts in one minute. We won't get there now ___ we hurry.
The shop shuts in one minute. We won't get there now even if we hurry.
Gareth's French isn't very good, ___ after five years in Lyon.
Gareth's French isn't very good, even after five years in Lyon.
Gareth's French isn't very good, ___ he lived in Lyon for five years.
Gareth's French isn't very good, even though he lived in Lyon for five years.
___ with two jumpers on, I was freezing in that office.
Even with two jumpers on, I was freezing in that office.
I couldn't relax ___ I was on holiday.
I couldn't relax even though I was on holiday.
I'm not lending him my car again, ___ he begs.
I'm not lending him my car again, even if he begs.
___ I'd been walking all day, I wasn't tired.
Even though I'd been walking all day, I wasn't tired.