only ever been given

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only ever been given" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something has exclusively received a particular treatment or condition throughout its existence. Example: "This award has only ever been given to those who have made significant contributions to the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Salma has only ever been given breastmilk and water and is already moderately malnourished.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He stands to lose a lot of money, but he'll only ever be given one body and one brain, so he is prioritising his health over his bank balance: "If it could potentially kill you – I know that's a drastic way to put it, but it is a possibility – that really puts it in perspective.

The Guardian - Sport

Animals should only ever be given as gifts to a recipient who is both aware of the gift and has accepted the responsibility for the animal's lifelong care.

WikiHow

No woman jockey has ever won the Derby, principally because only Alex Greaves has ever been given a ride in the race, on a 500-1 shotraineded by her husband.

The Guardian - Sport

A few minutes' research in any supermarket would be enough to alarm the most stout-hearted customer if only he had ever been given a few basic facts about the chemicals presented for his choice.

The New Yorker

And only Clint Eastwood, among actors, has ever been given the Thalberg award before.

The New York Times

But although Mussolini's troops allegedly also committed atrocities during campaigns in Libya and Ethiopia, and later in Slovenia and Greece, only one public apology has ever been given.

The Guardian

Most remarkably, he won the Pulitzer Prize for music, for his self-produced album "Sound Grammar," his first recording in a decade; it's the only time the award has ever been given for a commercial record.

The New Yorker

It is the only Family Guy episode that has ever been given a "Masterpiece" (10/10) rating by IGN, leading many to consider this episode as the greatest in Family Guy's history.

Wikipedia

"Only a very limited number of scientists and engineers have ever been given full access," the company said.

Los Angeles Times

"At that time, we were the only promoters to ever be given an entire stage to produce.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only ever been given" to emphasize the exclusivity of a gift, opportunity, or treatment. For instance, "This scholarship has "only ever been given" to students with exceptional academic records."

Common error

Avoid using "only ever been given" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The award has "only ever been given" by the CEO", consider "The CEO has "only ever given" the award".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only ever been given" functions as part of a passive construction, typically within a clause to specify what has been uniquely or exclusively provided. According to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

24%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only ever been given" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to emphasize that something has exclusively received a particular treatment, opportunity, or gift. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While it appears across various registers, it is most frequently found in news and media, science, and wiki sources. To enhance clarity, consider alternative active voice constructions, but use "only ever been given" when the intent is to highlight exclusivity and underscore a unique status.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exclusively received

Focuses on the exclusivity of the reception, emphasizing that nothing else was received.

solely been granted

Highlights the uniqueness of the grant, indicating it's the only thing that was ever given.

uniquely been provided

Emphasizes the unique nature of the provision, implying it's distinct and singular.

never been offered anything else

Shifts the perspective to what was not offered, reinforcing the idea of limited provision.

exclusively been allocated

Highlights the allocation aspect, suggesting that only this particular item was assigned.

only been afforded

Emphasizes the opportunity or privilege that was uniquely granted.

just been bestowed

Focuses on the act of bestowing something, implying it's the only thing that was given.

simply been furnished

Suggests a basic provision, highlighting the simplicity and exclusivity of what was furnished.

merely been supplied

Underlines the limited nature of the supply, suggesting that nothing more was provided.

at no other time granted

Focuses on the temporal aspect, stressing that at no other time was anything else granted.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "only ever been given" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could use alternatives like "exclusively received", "solely been granted", or "uniquely been provided". These options emphasize the exclusivity in a more sophisticated manner.

Is it grammatically correct to say "only ever been gave" instead of "only ever been given"?

No, "only ever been gave" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle of 'give' is 'given'. Therefore, the proper phrasing is "only ever been given".

What's the difference between "only given" and "only ever been given"?

"Only given" implies that something was provided, but it doesn't emphasize the exclusivity or limitation over time. "Only ever been given" stresses that it has exclusively been provided, and nothing else at any other time.

In what contexts is it best to use "only ever been given"?

It's best used when you want to emphasize that something has uniquely or exclusively received a particular treatment, opportunity, or gift throughout its existence, setting it apart from other possibilities or alternatives. Example: "That specific medal has "only ever been given" for extraordinary acts of valor".