Metkagram
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B2–C1 · GFF · GFF010

Never before + have/has + subject + past participle phrase

Explanation

A reusable frame from “Negation, inversion and focus”. Compare how English and German express negation, inversion and focus. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

Structure

EN · EnglishNever before + have/has + subject + past participle phrase
DE · GermanNoch nie + haben/sein + subject + participle phrase

Anchor phrase

RU · Translation

Никогда раньше я не видел реку настолько обмелевшей.

EN · English

Never before have I seen the river this low.

DE · German

Noch nie habe ich den Fluss mit so niedrigem Wasserstand gesehen.

Try variations2 · more examples

  1. RU · Translation

    Никогда раньше ей не приходилось делать такой трудный выбор.

    EN · English

    Never before has she had to make such a difficult choice.

    DE · German

    Noch nie hat sie eine so schwierige Entscheidung treffen müssen.

  2. RU · Translation

    Никогда раньше мы не получали столько содержательных ответов.

    EN · English

    Never before have we received so many thoughtful replies.

    DE · German

    Noch nie haben wir so viele durchdachte Antworten erhalten.

Pattern graph

Continue with nearby patterns

GFF001Not until + past clause + did + subject + bare infinitiveGFFGFF002Only after + -ing phrase + did + subject + bare infinitiveGFFGFF003Only by + -ing phrase + can + subject + bare infinitiveGFFGFF004Under no circumstances + modal + subject + bare infinitive phraseGFF