Grammar · Adverbs & Word Order
Even
Put one small word in the right place and you point at the surprise. Learn it with the film Eddie the Eagle.
Grammar › Adverbs & Word Order › Even
The rule in one sentencePut even just before the surprising part of a sentence, and use not even when the smallest, easiest thing does not happen.
About the film
Eddie the Eagle is a film from 2016 about Eddie Edwards, a young British man who dreams of going to the Winter Olympics. He is not a natural athlete, and not even his dad believes in him. So Eddie tries ski jumping, a sport so scary that even good skiers stay away from it.
What does it do?
Even works like a finger. It points at one part of the sentence and says: this is the surprise. You put it just before that part. Move it, and you move the surprise.
Not even points at the smallest or most expected thing and says: this did not happen either. It makes a negative sentence much stronger.
Look at the first tile. Bronson is an expert, so you do not expect him to be afraid. That is why even goes in front of his name. In the last tile, a coach is the most basic thing an athlete needs, and Eddie does not have one.
Even has one more job. Before a comparing word like better or scarier, it means “more than you expect”:
The 70-metre jump is scary. The 90-metre jump is even scarier.
Both jumps are scary. With “even”, the second one is scarier still.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
even — point at the surprise
Even Bronson thinks the jump is dangerous.
Eddie doesn’t stop, even when he gets hurt.
“Even when” adds a surprising situation.Can even a beginner learn to jump?
The surprise here is “a beginner”.not even — the smallest thing
Not even his dad believes in him.
At the start of a sentence, say “not even”.Eddie doesn’t even have a coach at first.
After “doesn’t” or “didn’t”, put “even” before the verb.Can’t you even try?
A question that shows you are surprised or annoyed.When to use each one
even — a surprise
not even — not the smallest thing
Words that help: common patterns
These short patterns come up again and again. Learn them as pieces.
even → a surprise
not even → not the smallest thing
Common mistakes
❌ Eddie keeps training, even he is hurt.
✅ Eddie keeps training, even when he is hurt.
Before a whole situation, say “even when” or “even if”.
❌ The big jump is even high.
✅ The big jump is even higher.
To mean “more than you expect”, “even” needs the comparing form: higher, scarier, better.
❌ Eddie didn’t have even a coach.
✅ Eddie didn’t even have a coach.
In a negative sentence, put “even” after “didn’t” and before the verb.
❌ Even not his dad believes in him.
✅ Not even his dad believes in him.
The order is always “not even”, never “even not”.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
“Even though”, “even if” and “even so” do different jobs. “Even though” introduces a surprising fact that is true. “Even if” introduces something that might happen but would not change the result. “Even so” means “despite that” and links two sentences.
✅ Even though Eddie is not a natural athlete, he wants to compete. (it is true)
✅ He will jump even if it is dangerous. (it might be)
✅ Eddie falls again and again. Even so, he gets back up. (despite that)
Practice: where does “even” go?
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. ___ Bronson thinks the big jump is dangerous.
“Even” goes right before the surprising person: an expert is afraid.
2. The 90-metre jump is ___ scarier than the 70-metre one.
“Even” + scarier means more than you expect.
3. At first, Eddie doesn’t ___ have a coach.
After “doesn’t”, just add “even” before the verb.
4. ___ his dad believes in his dream.
The order is always “not even”.
5. Eddie keeps training, ___ when he falls.
“Even when” adds a surprising situation.
6. Eddie falls a lot. ___, he tries again.
“Even so” means “despite that” and links two sentences.
7. Before this, Eddie had ___ tried ski jumping.
“Even” comes after “never”, just like after “not”.
8. ___ though he is not strong, Eddie wants to jump.
“Even though” introduces a surprising fact that is true.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
Keep going
More lessons
Practise listening at your level
Hear this grammar used for real — Intermediate English listening practice. Full movie reviews in slow, clear English, levelled for Intermediate learners. One new episode every week, free, with a transcript. IntermediateFree playlistWatch on YouTube