English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 112: Even

Study this example situation:

Tina loves watching television.

She has a TV 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 TV 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.

You can use even with the verb in the middle of a sentence (see Unit 110):
  • Sue has travelled all over the world. She has even been to the Antarctic.
    (It's especially unusual to go to the Antarctic, so she must have travelled a lot.)
  • They are very rich. They even have their own private jet.

Study these examples with even after a negative (not/can't/don't 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 just run five miles and she's not even out of breath.

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've got even less than I thought.
  • We were surprised to get an email from her. We were even more surprised when she came to see us a few days later.

Even though / even when / even if

We use even though / even when / even if + subject + verb:
  • Even though she can't drive, she bought a car.
    she can't = subject + verb
  • 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.

You cannot use even in this way (+ subject + verb). We say:
  • Even though she can't drive, she bought a car. (not Even she can't drive)
  • I can't reach the shelf even if I stand on a chair. (not even I stand)

Compare even if and if:
  • We're going to the beach tomorrow. It doesn't matter what the weather is like. We're going even if it's raining.
  • We want to go to the beach tomorrow, but we won't go if it's raining.

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.

Amy
is usually happy
is usually on time
likes getting up early
is very interested in art
Kate
isn't very keen on art
is usually miserable
usually hates hotels
hasn't got a camera
Lisa
is almost always late
is a keen photographer
loves staying in hotels
isn't very good at getting up
  1. They stayed at a hotel. Everybody liked it, .
  2. They arranged to meet. They all arrived on time, __________ .
  3. They went to an art gallery. Nobody enjoyed it, __________ .
  4. Yesterday they had to get up early. They all managed to do this, __________ .
  5. They were together yesterday. They were all in a good mood, __________ .
  6. None of them took any pictures, __________ .

112.2 Make sentences with even. Use the words in brackets.

  1. Sue has been all over the world. (the Antarctic)
    .
  2. We painted the whole room. (the floor)
    We __________ .
  3. Rachel has met lots of famous people. (the prime minister)
    She __________ .
  4. You could hear the noise from a long way away. (from the next street)
    You __________ .

In the following sentences you have to use not ... even.

  1. They didn't say anything to us. (hello)
    .
  2. I can't remember anything about her. (her name)
    I __________ .
  3. There isn't anything to do in this town. (a cinema)
    __________ .
  4. He didn't tell anybody where he was going. (his wife)
    __________ .
  5. I don't know anyone in our street. (the people next door)
    __________ .

112.3 Complete the sentences using even + comparative.

  1. It was very hot yesterday, but today it's .
  2. The church is 500 years old, but the house next to it is __________ .
  3. That's a very good idea, but I've got an __________ one.
  4. The first question was very difficult to answer. The second one was __________ .
  5. I did very badly in the exam, but most of my friends did __________ .
  6. Neither of us was hungry. I ate very little and my friend ate __________ .

112.4 Put in if, even, even if or even though.

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

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