一直【yìzhí】

一直 goes before the verb and says something has gone on without a break, up to now or across a whole stretch of time.

It also works with feelings and wishes that have lasted a long time.

With 没 and 不

一直没 says something has never happened, all along; 一直不 says someone has kept refusing or kept not doing it.

一直 or 总是

一直 is one unbroken stretch. 总是 is the same thing happening every time.

Before the verb, not at the end

English puts "all along" or "the whole time" at the end. 一直 stays before the verb.

• × 我住在北京一直 → 我一直住在北京

"Straight on"

With 走 or 往 + direction, 一直 means "straight".