"Ever play..." or "ever played..."

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Goloviznin Konstantin wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I've got a question from the "cuckoo's nest" again. This time there's
> some doubt appeared on Mac's asking Chief - ever play this game.
> Should it be - ever played this game? If 'ever play' is right (or
> even right too) the translation must be like 'когда-нибудь играешь в
> эту игру'.  That's it or anything else here?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> The full context is here: <http://depositfiles.com/files/ddiiha0af> or
> here: <http://rapidshare.com/files/446840377/Ever_play_this_game.zip>

The straightforward answer is this is elliptical for "[Did] you ever 
play this game?"

In practice, colloquial speakers often use the simple past where a 
present perfect would be expected, so I would translate it as if he had 
said "[Have] you ever played this game?" It usually happens when a 
specific event was expected; it doesn't refer to the entirety of past 
time. But in this particular case, the use of "ever" forces the 
interpretation that the statement covers all past time, and more 
importantly, to the listener's consequential present familiarity with 
the game.

Compare:

(You) eat yet? [= has your expected meal occurred yet?]

Get anywhere with Molly? [= has your expected attempt to date Molly 
produced any results?]

etc.

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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