Teacher Discussion Forums

In which register/s would you normally find "for ever and ever"?

-What is forever, Uncle Boner?

-Forever is an eternity, Cupcake.

-Oh, I thought forever was an adverb.

(Boner's Ark)



.........

Is it easy to explain the semantics of "ever" to students?

All registers, theoretically as they are pretty well neutral. However, they fit into what are often described as the "plain" register. There are formal equivelents, which may be considered pompose if over used "at any time", "in perpetuity", etc. I cannot think of more informal equivelents.