Usage About "never"

[Kjsivakumar]

hello all,

what is the difference between following two sentences:

1. I never went to the Temple.

2. I have never gone to the Temple.

I need Brief explanation about these two sentence.

thanks.
siva

[KArmine]

1) "I never went to the Temple" means that you had a chance to go, but you didn't. You don't have the chance any more.
2) "I have never gone to the Temple" means that you haven't gone there so far, but you still have a chance to visit it.

However the use of Present Perfect with the word "never" is more common.

[Kitosdad]

More preferable would be, " I've never been to the Temple. "
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Englishman living in Germany.