从来
Meaning
从来 is an adverb meaning “always / never before / ever since the past”.
It indicates that a situation or action has been consistently the same from the past up to the present.
It is most commonly used in negative sentences.
1. 从来不……
从来不 + verb — “never do”. Used for a habit or consistent behaviour.
Subject + 从来不 + Verb
他从来不迟到
我从来不喝咖啡
老张这个人开会从来不迟到
2. 从来没 / 没有……
从来没(有) + verb — “have/has never…”. It says something has never happened up to now.
Subject + 从来没(有) + Verb + 过
我从来没去过中国
他从来没有坐过飞机
从来不 vs. 从来没(有)
从来不 → describes a habit or consistent behaviour.
他从来不喝酒
从来没(有) → describes an experience that has never happened.
他从来没喝过酒
从来没……过
从来没……过 is a very common pattern: “have never done/experienced something”.
Subject + 从来没(有) + Verb + 过
我从来没吃过北京烤鸭
我从来没这么快乐过
Quick rule
从来不 + Verb → never do
我从来不迟到
从来没(有) + Verb + 过 → have never done
我从来没去过中国
从来 covers the span from the past up to now.
从来不 → habit: never do
从来没(有)……过 → experience: have never done