从来（always/never）

It means always or never.

Always

Subject + 从来 + 都(是) + verb(verb phrase)

= always do something.

是 means emphasis and is optional.

他从来都这样。
= 他从来都是这样。
He’s always like this.

他从来都这么晚睡。
= 他从来都是这么晚睡。
He always goes to bed so late.

我们下棋，从来都他赢。
= 我们下棋，从来都是他赢。
When we play chess, he always wins.

我从来都一个人住，已经习惯了。
= 我从来都是一个人住，已经习惯了。
I’ve always lived alone. I’m used to it already.

他从来都这样吗？
= 他从来都是这样吗？
Is he always like this?

Subject + 从(来) + 不 + verb(verb phrase)

= never do something.

来 is optional.

她从来不喝酒。
= 她从不喝酒。
She never drinks.

这个人很奇怪，他从来不笑。
= 这个人很奇怪，他从不笑。
This person is very strange. He never smiles.

他从来不关心别人。
= 他从不关心别人。
He never cares about other people.

Subject + 从(来) + (都)没(有) + Verb + 过

= to have never done something.

有 is optional.

都 means emphasis and is optional as well.

But 来 & 都 can’t be omitted at the same time.

Therefore, the following combinations can be formed:

我从来没有想过这个问题。
= 我从来没想过这个问题。
= 我从没想过这个问题。
= …
Have you never thought about this question?

你从来都没有想过这个问题吗？
= 你从来没想过这个问题吗？
= 你从没想过这个问题吗？
= …
Have you never thought about this question?

我从没有学过这个词。
= 我从来没学过这个词。
= 我从没学过这个词。
= …
I have never before studied this word.

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