He is seldom or ever absent from school.

Analyzing the Original Sentence

The original sentence, “He is seldom or ever absent from school,” utilizes the adverb "seldom" which means ‘not often’. The addition of “or ever” is redundant because “seldom” already encompasses the idea of infrequent occurrence. Using both creates a slightly awkward and unnecessarily verbose construction.

Grammatical Considerations

The sentence structure itself is correct – Subject (He) + Verb (is) + Adverb (seldom or ever) + Adjective (absent) + Prepositional Phrase (from school). The issue lies solely with the adverbial phrase. The use of ‘is absent’ is also grammatically correct, indicating a state of being. However, a more natural phrasing might involve a more active voice.

Revised Sentence Options

Several revisions can improve the sentence:

• Option 1 (Most Concise): “He is seldom absent from school.” – This removes the redundancy and maintains clarity.
• Option 2 (Slightly More Emphatic): “He is rarely absent from school.” – “Rarely” is a synonym for “seldom” and avoids the “or ever” construction.
• Option 3 (Active Voice): “He rarely misses school.” – This uses a more active verb ("misses") and sounds more natural in contemporary English.

Why "Seldom or Ever" is Redundant

The phrase "seldom or ever" falls into a category of redundant phrasing known as pleonasms. While not strictly incorrect, they weaken the impact of the sentence. Consider these examples of pleonasms:

• “Free gift” (a gift is inherently free)
• “True facts” (facts are always true)
• “Repeat again” (to repeat implies doing something again)

Similarly, “seldom or ever” adds little to the meaning of “seldom” alone.

Impact of Word Choice

The choice between "seldom," "rarely," and "misses" depends on the desired nuance. "Seldom" and "rarely" are more formal, while "misses" is more conversational. In the context of a formal examination answer, "seldom" is likely the most appropriate choice due to its precision and lack of ambiguity.