This post looks at the words still, already and yet – three common words that often cause problems for students.
We use still to talk about situations that continue to exist at the present time or at the time you are talking about:
He still hasn’t said sorry.
Note that (like words such as often and sometimes) still comes before the verb (unless it is be, when it comes after) or between the auxiliary and the main verb:
She still lives with her mother.
She lives still with her mother.
They were still living in London.
They were living still in London.
It is possible, but much less common, to put still at the end of the sentence:
She lives with her mother still.
We use yet in negative sentences to talk about things that have not happened up to the present time or the time you are talking about. With yet, Brits are most likely to use the present perfect, while Americans often use the past simple:
I haven’t read the document yet. (UK)
I didn’t read the document yet. (US)
We also use yet in simple, present tense questions, but not in positive statements:
Are you hungry yet?
Is the doctor here yet?
I am hungry yet.
We often use yet to ask whether something has been done. Again, Brits are most likely to use the present perfect, where Americans usually use the past simple:
Have you done your homework yet? (UK)
Did you do your homework yet? (US)
Note that we almost always put yet at the end of the sentence. It is possible to put it before the verb in negative sentences, but this is rather formal:
He hasn’t yet received the document.
Make sure you don’t use yet when you should use already. We use already to talk about things that have happened or been done before, or that have happened or been done before the expected time. Again, Brits often use the present perfect where Americans use the past simple:
I’ve already seen that movie. (UK)
I already saw that movie. (US)
Have you finished your work already? (UK)
Did you finish your work already? (US)
Be careful with the spelling of already too – remember that it only has one ‘l’!
So, did you know all this information already? Perhaps you haven’t learned it in your English lessons yet? Or maybe you learned it in class but you still didn’t understand it completely? Anyway, I hope it is clearer now!
If you’d like some more information on still, already and yet, you can find it here.
