never seen

USAGE SUMMARY

'never seen' is a correct phrase in written English.
It is typically used when making a comparison between two objects in order to emphasize the difference between them. For example, "She had never seen a gem like it before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Never seen a train.

The New Yorker

"I've never seen that".

The New York Times

They've never seen it.

The New York Times

Never seen such coal.

The New Yorker

We'd never seen one.

The New Yorker

"We've never seen that".

The New York Times

I'd never seen hippies.

The New Yorker

I've never seen it.

The New York Times

They're never seen.

The New Yorker

Never seen that before".

Independent

She'd never seen it before.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never seen" to express surprise or emphasize the novelty of something. For example, "I've "never seen" such dedication before."

Common error

Avoid using "never saw" instead of ""never seen"" when you need the present perfect tense. For example, instead of saying "I never saw that before," say "I've "never seen" that before".

Linguistic Context

The phrase ""never seen"" functions primarily as a past participle construction with an adverb, used to modify a verb. It indicates a lack of prior experience or observation. Ludwig AI confirms it as a correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase ""never seen"" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey a lack of prior experience or observation. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. It's most frequently found in news and media, and carries a neutral tone suitable for various contexts. When aiming for formality, alternatives like "not witnessed" or "not observed" might be preferred. Remember to use ""never seen"" in the present perfect tense, contrasting it with "never saw" which is used in the simple past. This comprehensive guide, along with real-world examples, provides a solid foundation for understanding and utilizing ""never seen"" effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not seen before

Reorders the phrase to slightly shift the emphasis.

not witnessed

Uses a more formal verb to indicate a lack of observation.

not observed

Emphasizes a lack of formal or scientific observation.

never encountered

Focuses on a lack of direct interaction or experience.

completely unseen

Adds emphasis to the lack of visibility.

not ever viewed

Highlights the absence of visual experience.

not previously viewed

Emphasizes the lack of prior visual experience.

haven't laid eyes on

An idiomatic expression for not having seen something.

something I've yet to see

Indicates an expectation or possibility of seeing it in the future.

unknown to my eyes

A more poetic or figurative way of saying "never seen".

FAQs

How can I use "never seen" in a sentence?

You can use ""never seen"" to express that something is new or surprising to you. For example, "I've "never seen" such dedication before."

What's a more formal way to say "never seen"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "not witnessed" or "not observed" instead of ""never seen"".

Is "never saw" ever correct instead of "never seen"?

"Never saw" is used in the simple past tense, while ""never seen"" is used in the present perfect tense. Use "never saw" when referring to a specific past event, and ""never seen"" when talking about your experience up to the present.

What can I say instead of "I've "never seen" this before"?

You could say "This is new to me", "I haven't witnessed this before", or "This is unprecedented" as alternatives to "I've "never seen" this before".