Learn English – “again” in “Today is the oldest you’ve ever been and the youngest you’ll ever be again.”

grammarmeaning-in-context

Saw this sentence today. It has two variations, one ends with again and one without it. While the again does have a nice ring to it, I kind of feel that it makes no grammatical/semantic sense for it to appear in this sentence, but I don't know why. Does it have to do with whether the "ever…again" part is in a negative/interrogative situation vs. non-negative, which this sentence is?

Is there any grammatical justification for this again? What does it mean? Are there any other sentences that involve such a non-negative again? Hope I'm making myself clear enough 🙂

On another note, I also see Today, you are the oldest…, which is admittedly "more" grammatical but less "catchy". In either form, the question about again remains.

Best Answer

The "again" means at another time or once more as in, for example: I shall not look upon his like again — Shakespeare

Today is the oldest you've ever been and the youngest you'll ever be again. is a literary quote by Anonymous that has been around for a long time, and I think that that is proof that the again is necessary.

For example, you have not heard anyone quote, you'll never be younger or older that you are right now, which is shorter and possibly more clear.

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