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Already, Yet and Still Explanation
Already, Yet and Still Explanation
We use already when something happens earlier than expected, or earlier than
something else.
Already normally goes in the middle of the sentence, in mid position. The mid
position is:
➪ Before the verb but after the verb be when it’s the only verb in a sentence:
➪ After a modal or auxiliary verb. If there is a verb with two or more words, the
mid position is after the first word:
• I am already eating.
• I have already eaten.
• She will already be home when you arrive.
We can use both already and yet in questions but usually, the meaning is a bit
different.
We use already to ask about things that we know or think are true or have
happened (and probably we didn’t expect them to happen until later).
• Have you already finished your project? That was fast! (= I didn’t expect
you to finish so soon.)
• Has the bus already left? / Has the bus left already? (= I know the bus has
left or has probably left.)
We use yet to ask if something has happened or not. We don’t know if it has
happened.
• Have you finished your project yet? (= I don’t know if you have finished
your project. I want to know.)
• Has the bus left yet? (= I’m not sure whether the bus has left or not. I want
to know.)
Still
We use still to say that something is continuing. It has not changed or stopped.
Still normally goes in the middle of the sentence, in mid position. Mid position is:
➪ Before the verb but after the verb be when it’s the only verb in a sentence:
➪ After a modal or auxiliary verb. If there is a verb with two or more words, the
mid position is after the first word:
• I am still waiting.
• I will still be here when you arrive.
Yet
We use yet when we are waiting for something to happen or expecting something
to happen. We use yet in negative sentences to say that this thing that we are
expecting to happen has not happened.
• She hasn’t called yet. (= I’m waiting for her to call, but she hasn’t done it.)
• I haven’t done my homework yet.
• He is not here yet.
We also use yet in questions to ask if this thing that we are expecting to happen
has already happened.
We can use still and yet in negative sentences to talk about something that didn’t
happen or wasn’t true in the past and continues not to happen or not to be true in
the present. The meaning of still and yet in these sentences is very similar, but
often still shows that the speaker is more impatient or surprised.
• She hasn’t called yet. (= I expect she will call sometime soon.)
• She still hasn’t called. (= Why hasn’t she called yet?!)
• She hasn’t finished school yet. (= She will finish sometime soon.)
• She still hasn’t finished school. (= I’m surprised because she shouldn’t be in
school at her age.)
In British English, it’s more common to use yet and already with the present
perfect.
• “Do you want a sandwich?” “No thanks, I’ve already had lunch.”
• “Have you finished your homework yet?”
In American English, it’s more common to use yet and already with the past
simple.