always
If something always happens, it happens at all times. If it has always happened, or will always happen, it has happened forever or will happen forever.
When always has one of these meanings, it is used with a simple form of a verb.
If there is no auxiliary verb, always goes in front of the verb, unless the verb is be.
Talking to Harold always cheered her up.
A man always remembers his first love.
If the verb is be, you usually put always after it.
She was always in a hurry.
If there is an auxiliary verb, you usually put always after it.
I've always been very careful.
If there is more than one auxiliary verb, you usually put always after the first one.
She had always been allowed to read whatever she wanted.
Be careful
When you use always with this meaning, don't use it with a verb in a progressive form. Don't say, for example, ‘Talking to Harold was always cheering her up’.
When you use always with this meaning, don't use it with a verb in a progressive form. Don't say, for example, ‘Talking to Harold was always cheering her up’.
If you say that something is always happening, you mean that it happens often. When you use always like this, you use it with a progressive form of a verb.
Why are you always interrupting me?
The bed was always collapsing.
She's great – she's always laughing and smiling.
Be careful
Don't use ‘always’ in comparisons, negative sentences, or questions to mean ‘at any time in the past’ or ‘at any time in the future’. Instead you use ever. For example, don't say ‘They got on better than always before’. You say ‘They got on better than ever before’.
Don't use ‘always’ in comparisons, negative sentences, or questions to mean ‘at any time in the past’ or ‘at any time in the future’. Instead you use ever. For example, don't say ‘They got on better than always before’. You say ‘They got on better than ever before’.
It was the biggest shooting star they had ever seen.
How will I ever manage to survive alone?