Still, yet & already

 

Do you already know how to use these words? Or don’t you know yet? Are they still confusing for you? Maybe this chart will help.

Position of STILL in a sentence

 

Still is used before a verb or adjective

Be + still + adjective

• The baby is still asleep.
• I’m still tired.

Still + main verb

• I still want to go.
• Does he still live with his parents?

Auxiliary + still + main verb

If the verb has two parts, still goes in the middle between the auxiliary and the verb.

• We are still trying to finish the assignment.
• Are you still waiting for him?

BUT if the sentence is negative, still goes before the negative auxiliary verb.

• He still hasn’t quit his job despite complaining about it every day.
• My phone still isn’t working after I dropped it.

Position of YET in a sentence

Verb + (object) + yet

• She hasn’t finished yet. (verb + yet)
• She hasn’t finished her meal yet. (verb + object + yet)
• Have you been to Spain yet?

Adjective + yet

• Fortunately, they aren’t bored yet.
• Is your friend ready yet?

You can see that YET mostly comes at the end of sentence or question. But there is an exception:

YET is sometimes used in affirmative sentences in formal English though it is not common to hear it. In this case, it is not placed at the end of the sentence but after the verb to be.

• We are yet to find a solution.
• The best is yet to come.

Position of ALREADY in a sentence

Already is used before a verb or adjective.

Be + already

• After only 15 minutes, he is already frustrated.
• We are already at the restaurant.

In spoken English, already can be at the end of a sentence for greater emphasis (or to show surprise)

• Has he finished? (No surprise)
• Has he finished already? (I’m surprised)

Now, following word order for YET depends on whether American English or British English is used.

already + main verb

In American English, the word order is already + main verb. This main verb is in the Past simple tense.

• I already ate.
• He already finished the task.

auxiliary verb + already + verb

In British English, the word order is auxiliary verb + already + verb. This verb is a past participle in a Perfect tense.

• I have already eaten.
• He has already finished the task.

Still = continues longer than expected.
Already = sooner than expected.
Yet = it is expected but has not happened.

Ex. 1

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Ex. 3

Ex. 4