Even: How and When to Use in English
Quick and simple lesson to help you understand grammar better.
Test your English and learn even more with Gymglish.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Even
Even shares a similar meaning with 'also' or 'moreover' in the following examples:
She even paid for my drink. She paid for my drink too, which was surprising.
Even if I don't come, I'll give you a call. I'll call you whether I come or not.
Even dogs can swim! Moreover, dogs can swim too!
Even can also mean 'still' or 'yet' in the following case:
Bruno is impressed by Susie's charm, but he is even more impressed by her efficiency. Bruno is impressed by Susie's charm, but he is still more impressed by her efficiency.
Some common expressions which use even:
even though, even if although, despite the fact that
Even though it was my birthday, he made me come to work. Although it was my birthday, he still made me come to work.
I'm going to have to report this to Bruno, even though it is your first infraction. I'm going to have to report this to Bruno, although it is only your first infraction.
maybe even perhaps also
If you'd like to have a drink on Tuesday, and maybe even go out to dinner, please call me. If you'd like to have a drink on Tuesday, and perhaps also go out to dinner, please call me.
even so despite this, in spite of this, however
- I have to leave a little early today. - Even so, you have to finish your work. - I have to leave a little early today. - In spite of this, you still have to finish your work.
even more still more, yet more; to be more exact
I need even more information. I need yet more information than this.
Even more than a girlfriend, I'm looking for a wife. I'm looking especially for a wife, rather than a girlfriend.
Note: Even is also an adjective which can be translated as 'divisible by two', 'level', 'equal'...
even numbers numbers which can be divided by two (for example 4, 6, 8, 124 etc.)
an even surface a level, flat, smooth surface
Exercise 1
Philip: Sorry I'm late Bruno, I was busy this morning.
Bruno: I didn't know you were capable of being busy, Cheeter.
Philip: It's true, sir. I manage to get things done from time to time.
Bruno: That's wonderful.
Bruno: I didn't know you were capable of being busy, Cheeter.
Philip: It's true, sir. I manage to get things done from time to time.
Bruno: That's wonderful.
Philip: Sorry I'm late Bruno, I was busy this morning.
Bruno: I didn't even 1 know you were capable of being busy, Cheeter.
Philip: It's true, sir. Even 2 I manage to get things done from time to time.
Bruno: That's wonderful.
Bruno: I didn't even 1 know you were capable of being busy, Cheeter.
Philip: It's true, sir. Even 2 I manage to get things done from time to time.
Bruno: That's wonderful.
1 even: This is the best choice here. The term 'even' is often used as a word of emphasis. Bruno is expressing his surprise that Philip is 'capable of being busy'.
1 true: 'True' is grammatically incorrect here. 'True' is an adjective and an adjective cannot precede a verb.
1 still: 'Still' is grammatically incorrect. When used in conjunction with the past tense, 'still' usually precedes the verb. For example: 'It was ten o'clock and he still hadn't finished his homework'.
2 Even: This is the best choice here. Philip is emphasizing the fact that someone such as himself still manages to get things done.
2 Even more: 'Even more' is grammatically incorrect here because Philip is not comparing himself with anybody else.
2 Even though: 'Even though' is grammatically incorrect here because it usually introduces a clause which is relative to another. For example: 'Even though I'm mature, I still choose not to have sex.'
2 Even so: 'Even so' is grammatically incorrect here. The expression 'even so' is usually used as a negative response to what someone else has said. For example: 'John: But I've already given you all of my money.'
Martha: 'Even so, you're still not getting a slice of cake.'
Martha: 'Even so, you're still not getting a slice of cake.'
Exercise 2
it's Saturday, Susie is going to the office to finish up her work left over from last week. Her department has always been inspired by her work ethic, and by her perfection.
Even though 1 it's Saturday, Susie is still 2 going to the office to finish up her work left over from last week. Her department has always been inspired by her work ethic, and even more 3 by her perfection.
1 Even though: 'Even though' is the best choice here. It introduces the contrast between the idea that it's Saturday (a day when people don't usually work), and the fact that Susie is actually in the office. 'Even though' is used to introduce the contrast between ideas. We could also say: 'Even though I don't like cake, I'll have some anyway'.
1 Even so: 'Even so' does not fit in this construction. 'Even so' expresses contrast between two ideas, however grammatically it cannot be followed by 'it's Saturday'. However, we could say: 'I didn't like that actor very much. Even so, I still enjoyed the film'.
1 Even more: 'Even more' does not belong in this construction. We could say, however: 'What I would want even more for my birthday is a pony'. 'Even more' describes an increased degree or quantity. For example: We'll need even more money than that to shoot this film.
1 Even: 'Even' does not fit in this construction. We could say: 'Even Susie goes to the office on Saturdays'. But this would have a different meaning than the sentence as it is written in the exercise.
2 still: 'Still' is the correct choice here. It emphasizes the fact that Susie is going to work, 'despite' it being Saturday.
2 even: 'Even' is grammatically incorrect in this construction. The sentence already begins with the expression 'even though', so it would not make sense to repeat the term to introduce the second clause.
2 more: It is grammatically incorrect to say that 'Susie is more going'.
2 always: 'Always' is grammatically incorrect in this construction. 'Always' cannot be used to express an action that occurs on one day. 'Always' refers to regular or constant actions. Example: Icarus always puts his left shoe on before his right shoe.
3 even more: 'Even more' is the best choice here. It expresses the idea that Susie's department is inspired 'more' by Susie's perfection than they are by her work ethic. 'Even more' is used in comparative constructions such as this one.
3 even if: 'Even if' doesn't fit in this construction. We cannot say that Susie's department is 'even IF inspired by her perfection.
3 even though: 'Even though' does not fit in this construction. The construction 'even though so by...' is grammatically incorrect.
3 even so: 'Even so' does not fit in this construction. We cannot say: 'even so by...'. 'Even so' expresses contrast between two ideas, however grammatically it cannot be followed by 'by her perfection'. However, we could say: 'I didn't like that actor very much. Even so, I still enjoyed the film'.
Exercise 3
Bruno has done a lot of traveling. He's been to sixty countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas. He's seen the Taj Mahal twice! Bruno has traveled around the world several times, he still wants to see more.
Bruno has done a lot of traveling. He's been to over 1 sixty countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas. He's even 2 seen the Taj Mahal twice! Even though 3 Bruno has traveled around the world several times, he still wants to see more.
1 over: 'Over' is the best choice here. It tells us that Bruno has been to 'more than' sixty countries.
1 even: 'Even' is grammatically incorrect in this construction. It cannot precede 'sixty countries' in this case. We could say, however: 'He's even been to sixty countries'.
1 always: 'Always' is grammatically incorrect in this construction. 'Always' would not appear in between the preposition 'to' and 'sixty'.
1 still: 'Still' is grammatically incorrect. 'Still' would not appear between the preposition 'to' and 'sixty'.
2 even: 'Even' emphasizes the fact that Bruno has seen the Taj Mahal twice, which is rare or extraordinary. He has not been once, but twice!
2 more: 'More' is grammatically incorrect in this sentence. We cannot write our say 'He's more seen'. We could say, however: 'Bruno has seen the Taj Mahal more than once'.
2 even more: 'Even more' is grammatically incorrect in this construction. We cannot say: 'Bruno has even more seen...' We could say, however: 'Bruno was able to see even more of the Taj Mahal on his second visit'.
3 Even though: 'Even though' emphasizes the fact that Bruno wants to continue to travel, 'despite' having traveled so much already.
3 Even so: 'Even so' does not fit in this construction. 'Even so' is usually used as a response to a previous comment to express or introduce the idea of contrast.
3 Even more: 'Even more' does not fit in this construction. It makes no sense here.
3 Even: 'Even' is grammatically incorrect here. By itself, 'even' cannot link the two clauses of this construction ('Bruno traveling the world' + 'Bruno still wants to travel').
Exercise 4
Fill in the blanks using the terms from the list below. Each term is used only once!
even | even though | even so | even more
I love skiing, I can only afford to go once every few years. , I do everything I can to practice at home: exercises, instructional videos⌠I ski down my staircase sometimes. My brother is a thrill-seeker, so I think he would love skiing , if only he could get over his phobia of snow.
even | even though | even so | even more
I love skiing, I can only afford to go once every few years. , I do everything I can to practice at home: exercises, instructional videos⌠I ski down my staircase sometimes. My brother is a thrill-seeker, so I think he would love skiing , if only he could get over his phobia of snow.
Fill in the blanks using the terms from the list below. Each term is used only once!
even | even though | even so | even more
Even though 1 I love skiing, I can only afford to go once every few years. Even so 2, I do everything I can to practice at home: exercises, instructional videos⌠I even 3 ski down my staircase sometimes. My brother is a thrill-seeker, so I think he would love skiing even more 4, if only he could get over his phobia of snow.
even | even though | even so | even more
Even though 1 I love skiing, I can only afford to go once every few years. Even so 2, I do everything I can to practice at home: exercises, instructional videos⌠I even 3 ski down my staircase sometimes. My brother is a thrill-seeker, so I think he would love skiing even more 4, if only he could get over his phobia of snow.
1 Even though: "Even though" is used to introduce a contrast or contradiction. It has the same meaning as "despite the fact thatâŚ". Here, the speaker loves skiing but they can only afford to go once every few years. Another example: "Even though I love animals, I would never keep a pet".
2 Even so: "Even so" means "despite this" or "nevertheless". Here, the speaker is saying that that they cannot go skiing often, but nevertheless they still practice whenever possible. Another example: "He's very professional. Even so, he still makes mistakes from time to time".
3 even: "Even" introduces an additional action or item, usually one which is surprising, unusual or remarkable in some way. For example: "She plays many instruments: the guitar, the piano, the trumpet, the violin⌠even the balalaika!".
4 even more: "Even more" means "to a yet greater extent". Here, the speaker is saying that they love skiing, but that their brother would maybe like skiing more than they do. Another example: "I hate optimists, but I hate pessimists even more".
Exercise 5
Fill in the blanks using the terms from the list below. Be careful: the terms may be used once, more than once, or not at all!
even | even though | even so | even more
Luna: Polly! Youâre eating a beef burger? Donât you know that beef production is terrible for the environment?
Polly: Yes, Luna. I know that â although Iâm not an environmental expert, like you are.
Luna: But you still choose to eat it?
Polly: Yes, I know I shouldnât.
Luna: When are you going to stop?
Polly: To be honest, Luna, if you donât stop hassling me, Iâm going to eat .
even | even though | even so | even more
Luna: Polly! Youâre eating a beef burger? Donât you know that beef production is terrible for the environment?
Polly: Yes, Luna. I know that â although Iâm not an environmental expert, like you are.
Luna: But you still choose to eat it?
Polly: Yes, I know I shouldnât.
Luna: When are you going to stop?
Polly: To be honest, Luna, if you donât stop hassling me, Iâm going to eat .
Fill in the blanks using the terms from the list below. Be careful: the terms may be used once, more than once, or not at all!
even | even though | even so | even more
Luna: Polly! Youâre eating a beef burger? Donât you know that beef production is terrible for the environment?
Polly: Yes, Luna. Even 1 I know that â although Iâm not an environmental expert, like you are.
Luna: But you still choose to eat it?
Polly: Yes, even though 2 I know I shouldnât.
Luna: When are you going to stop?
Polly: To be honest, Luna, if you donât stop hassling me, Iâm going to eat even more 3.
even | even though | even so | even more
Luna: Polly! Youâre eating a beef burger? Donât you know that beef production is terrible for the environment?
Polly: Yes, Luna. Even 1 I know that â although Iâm not an environmental expert, like you are.
Luna: But you still choose to eat it?
Polly: Yes, even though 2 I know I shouldnât.
Luna: When are you going to stop?
Polly: To be honest, Luna, if you donât stop hassling me, Iâm going to eat even more 3.
1 Even: "Even" is used to say that something is the case despite a limitation or restriction. Here, Polly is saying that she knows that beef production is bad for the environment despite not being an environmental expert like Luna. Another example: "I'm not the most conscientious person, but even I put glass in the recycling bin".
2 even though: Polly is saying that she chooses to eat beef despite or regardless of the fact that she knows she shouldn't. In other words, she knows she shouldn't eat beef, but she still does so. Another example: "Even though I'm mostly vegan, I eat a cheese sandwich from time to time".
3 even more: Here, Polly is saying that if Luna keeps hassling her, Polly will eat more beef than she is currently eating. She already eats a considerable amount of beef, but she is saying that she may eat more still. A similar example: "Whenever I try to stop thinking about chocolate, I just want it even more" (to an even greater extent than before).
Still facing difficulties with 'Even'? Improve your English with Gymglish's English lessons - try our online English course for free now and receive a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Find out about other grammar rules. Improve your English further and test Gymglish, online English lessons.
Tips for learning 'Even'? Share them with us!
