Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word:
I've known him ________ we went to school together, but I've _______ met his parents.

• A. ever / ever
• B. for / never
• C. since / for
• D. since / never

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

since / never

Answer : D

Explanation :

Let us first understand what each of the words from the alternatives provided mean:

--for : As a preposition of time "for" is used to refer to an amount of time, be it either for past or present or future. So the construction of the sentence is like, for + a period of time.
--ever : means "at any time"; it is used in negative sentences and quite literally means the opposite of "always"; it is also used when asking questions or conveying a doubt.
--never : means "at not time"; it is a negative term and therefore it is used in affirmative/positive sentences to avoid double negatives.
--since : As a preposition of time "since" is used to refer to a point in time. So the construction of the sentence is like, since + a specific point in time.

In the principal clause of the sentence, a specific point in time has been mentioned and not a period/amount of time. Thus the grammatically suitable word here is "since".

In the dependent clause, the speaker is expressing a fact, which is an affirmative sentence, and thus here the grammatically suitable word to complete the sentence correctly is "never".

Therefore the correct complete sentence is:

I've known him SINCE we went to school together, but I've NEVER met his parents.