STILL, YET, ALREADY

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Three adverbs that often cause difficulty are still, yet, and already. They are all used when actions are going to happen, or are expected to happen, or were unexpected around the present time. These words are often used with the present perfect tense although „yet”, „still” and „already” can all be used with other tenses.

STILL

„Still” is used to talk about something that hasn’t finished especially when we expected it to finish earlier (it often refers to something happening for longer than expected). „Still” usually goes in the middle of the sentence, before the verb, or adjective and is often used with other tenses as well as the present perfect. Examples:

Are you still angry with your partner?
It's evening, and Mary is still working.
Do you still like him?
I’ve still got all those letters you sent me.

---> If the verb has two parts, "still" goes between both the verbs. Examples:

Don't tell me that you are still working on it.
When I saw him, Mark was still playing.
She started her exam an hour ago and she is still answering the questions.
Is it still snowing? (it continues to snow, it hasn't stopped)

---> If one of the two verbs is negative, "still" goes before that negative verb. Examples:

I took the clock to the repair shop though it still isn't working.
I still haven't figured out how it works.
He promised to give me that report yesterday and he still haven’t finished it.
I’ve been waiting for over an hour and the bus still hasn’t come.

YET

„Yet” refers to an action that is expected in the future and shows that we're expecting something to happen or have happened. It means ‘at any time up to now’. „Yet” is used in questions and negative sentences and it’s NOT used in the PAST. It’s usually placed at the end of the sentence or question.

We use „yet”:

---> to ask if something expected has happened. Examples:

Are you ready yet?
Is the report ready yet?
Has she come home yet?
Have you finished your homework yet? The teacher expects that the homework will be finished.

---> to say that something expected hasn't happened. Examples:

She hasn’t spoke to him yet.
Mary hasn't retired yet.
I can't go home yet, I haven’t finished my work.
They haven't paid us yet. (we were expecting to paid before now)

Note: „Yet” is occasionally used in affirmative sentences, giving the sentences a similar meaning as the use of „still”. However, this is more formal and not common e.g.
We have yet to hear the big news from uncle John. = We are still waiting to hear the big news from uncle John.
I am yet to receive the payment. = I am still waiting to receive the payment.

Note that in all these cases, the placement of „yet” is different. We put it after the verb „to be” or „have” (Present Perfect).

---> Often, we use „still” and „yet” together to explain why an action is continuing. Examples:

I am still studying at the university because I haven’t graduated yet.
We still don’t know who will be our new boss. The management board hasn’t told us yet.
I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to quit my job to go travel. I’m still thinking about it.

ALREADY

„Already” is used to say that something has happened early, or earlier than it might have happened (to talk about things that have happened, often earlier than expected). It usually goes in the middle or the end of sentence, just before or after the verb and is also commonly used with the present perfect. It is used in affirmative sentences in the present or past, but never future. Examples:

I already know what I'm going to buy you for your birthday.
I’ve already spent my salary and it’s two weeks before pay day.
The train’s already left! What are we going to do?
She’s done it already.

Note:
---> In present tense sentences, „already” is placed between the subject and verb e.g.
He already knows what he is up for.
You already know what to do.

---> In present perfect sentences, the order is subject + have+ already + past participle e.g.
I’ve already sent the article to my editor.
We have already seen this film.

---> In present and present perfect questions, it comes immediately after the subject e.g.
Is Mark already here?
Have you two already met?
How does he already have the answers to tomorrow's test?
Have they already left?

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