I've never been on a ship before. It's a fantastic experience.
I've already been on a ship before. It's a fantastic experience.
Are both options correct? Thanks a lot.
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2All four sentences are grammatically correct, but they don't necessarily make sense. Could you edit your question to specify what you're asking?– JacobCommented Feb 28, 2016 at 16:36
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1 Answer
They're both grammatical, though the second is awkward, and a bit paradoxical. They have completely different meanings.
"I've never been on a ship before" = "This is the first time I've ever been on a ship".
"I've already been on a ship before" = "This is not the first time I've been on a ship". "Already" implies "before", so it is redundant to say "before", and I don't know why anybody would. I say paradoxical, because remarking that it is a fantastic experience is a bit unlikely when this isn't the first time; but not an impossible thing to say.
answered Feb 28, 2016 at 16:39
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"I've never been on a ship before" can also mean the speaker has never been on a ship; not now, not ever. For example:
Colin:J.R., have you ever been on a ship before?J.R.:No, Colin, I haven't, but I've heard it's a fantastic experience. My grandmother used to tell me about a cruise she took when she was younger.– J.R. ♦Commented Feb 28, 2016 at 21:21 -
To me, the "before" is anomalous if you're not on a ship now. But YMMV. Commented Feb 28, 2016 at 21:43