Adverbs

Even

We can use even to emphasise or to talk about something that surprises us.

even + verb

• I even washed the dishes! (= I did everything, including washing the dishes.)
• The children even liked the vegetables. (= They liked everything, including the vegetables.)

even + comparative adjective

• Today is even hotter than yesterday! (= Yesterday was hot, and today is hotter.)

even + noun

• Even I washed the dishes. (= Everybody, including me, washed the dishes.)
• Even the children liked the vegetables. (= Everybody, including the children, liked the vegetables.

not + even + noun

• Not even the dog could eat the lasagne I cooked. (= The dog couldn't eat it. Nobody could eat it.)
• I couldn't eat a bite more, not even that amazing dessert. (= I can't eat any more, including the dessert.)

be + even

• We were even offered an evening meal, for no extra charge. (= We were offered many things, including an evening meal for no extra charge.)
• I arrived very early. I was even here before Jan was. (= I was here very early, earlier than anyone, including Jan.)