usage of never

[subhajit123]

Hi teachers, Which ones are correct?

1- I have never thought of getting married until now.

2- I never thought of getting married until now.

3- I had never thought of getting married until now.

4- I have never visited Italy until this week.

5- I had never visited Italy until this week.

 

[GoesStation]

They are all possible.

 

[subhajit123]

They are all possible.

Do they all mean the same? can you please explain?

 

[GoesStation]

The sentences use three different tenses - past simple, present perfect, and past perfect. Their meanings vary accordingly.

 

[subhajit123]

The sentences use three different tenses - past simple, present perfect, and past perfect. Their meanings vary accordingly.

Can you please tell me how I should use them and what the conditions should be?:roll:

 

[emsr2d2]

Explaining the uses of five different tenses is beyond the scope of this forum. Which of these tenses have you already studied in depth?

 

[subhajit123]

Explaining the uses of five different tenses is beyond the scope of this forum. Which of these tenses have you already studied in depth?

I would prefer 3 and 5 because I think it uses the word until which means an action must have happened before. No. 3 means that I have now thought about getting married. And for no. 5, I think both present perfect and past perfect can be used but I would prefer the past perfect tense. I am not sure.

 

[subhajit123]

I have searched in Google books for the first three sentences. I have found that 'present perfect tense' have rarely been used in the books with "until now".

 

[Matthew Wai]

I would say the following:

1. I have never thought of getting married before.
2. I never visited Italy until this week.