Still – Yet – Already English Grammar Rules

Learning the English language can be a task that raises confusion and questions. One of the aspects that can perplex even experienced students is the use of adverbs “still,” “yet,” and “already.” These words are employed to express time and the sequence of events, and although they may seem similar, they have their own shades of meaning and usage.

This table outlines the key differences between “Still,” “Yet,” and “Already” in terms of their usage in English sentences, position in a sentence, tense forms, and examples.

Comparison of Still, Yet, and Already

Criterion	Still	Yet	Already
Indicates	An action that is ongoing at the moment of speaking	An action that has not happened yet but is possible in the future	An action that has already occurred before a certain point in the past or earlier than expected
Position in a sentence	Can be at the beginning, after auxiliary verbs, or after the subject but before the main verb	Usually at the beginning, after auxiliary verbs, after the subject but before the main verb in questions, or at the beginning for emphasis	Usually before the main verb, after auxiliary verbs, after the subject but before the main verb, or at the beginning for emphasis
Tense Forms	In the past, present, and future tenses	In the past, present, and future tenses	In the past and present tenses (rarely in the future)
Examples	I am still working She still hasn’t called	Have you finished yet? I haven’t eaten yet	He has already left The cake is already baked She has already completed her task

Still

The word “still” indicates that an action is ongoing at the moment of speaking and can be used in various time forms. Here are some examples:

• I am still working on my project. – The action (working on the project) is continuing at the time of speaking.
• She still hasn’t called me back. – The action (making a call) has not occurred up to the point of speaking.

Position of STILL in a sentence

• At the beginning of the sentence: “Still, I haven’t received any news from her.”
• After auxiliary verbs (am, is, are, was, were, have, has, had, will, etc.): “She is still waiting for your call.”
• After the subject (usually with words ending in -ing): “The children are still playing in the park.”
• After the main verb if there is no auxiliary verb: “He still sings beautifully.”

Yet

The word “yet” is used to indicate an action that has not happened yet but is possible in the future. It is typically used in questions and negatives:

• Have you finished your homework yet? – The action (finishing homework) has not occurred yet, and there is a possibility it will happen later.
• I haven’t eaten lunch yet. – The action (having lunch) has not occurred up to a certain point in the past, and it may happen later.

Position of YET in a sentence

• At the beginning of the sentence: “Yet, I haven’t received any news from her.”
• After auxiliary verbs (haven’t, hasn’t, hadn’t, etc.): “I haven’t finished my work yet.”
• After the subject but before the main verb: “She hasn’t called me yet.”
• In questions, usually at the beginning of the sentence: “Have you met him yet?”

Already

The word “already” indicates that an action has already occurred before a certain point in the past or earlier than expected. Here are some examples:

• He has already finished his book. – The action (finishing the book) happened earlier than expected.
• She’s already left for the airport. – The action (leaving for the airport) occurred earlier than expected.

Position of ALREADY in a sentence

• Usually before the main verb: “I have already seen that movie.”
• After auxiliary verbs (have, has, had): “They had already left when we arrived.”
• After the subject but before the main verb: “She already knows the answer.”
• At the beginning of the sentence to emphasize the fact: “Already, we can see the impact of the new policy.”

In conclusion, distinguishing between “still,” “yet,” and “already” is a matter of practice. These adverbs are used to denote different temporal aspects and can alter the meaning of a sentence. For example, the same sentence with “still,” “yet,” and “already” can appear as follows:

• She still hasn’t called me back. – We are waiting for the call.
• She hasn’t called me back yet. – The call is possible in the future.
• She has already called me back. – The call has already happened earlier than expected.

Using Still, yet, already in different tenses

Still:

• In the past: “I was still studying at midnight.”
• In the present: “I am still working on my assignment.”
• In the future: “I will still be at work when you arrive.”

Yet:

• In the past: “She hadn’t yet received the email.”
• In the present: “I haven’t eaten lunch yet.”
• In the future: “Have you finished your homework yet?”

Already:

• In the past: “He had already left when I got home.”
• In the present: “She has already completed her task.”
• In the future (rarely used): “I will have already eaten by the time you arrive.”

Thus, mastering the correct use of “still,” “yet,” and “already” in English can help you express temporal relationships clearly and accurately in both spoken and written language. With practice and an understanding of their nuances, you will be able to use them effectively in various contexts.

Test Your Knowledge: Still, Yet, or Already – Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct word (still, yet, or already) to fill in the blanks in the following sentences:

1. Have you __________ finished reading that book?
2. She is __________ waiting for her friend at the cafe.
3. I can’t believe it’s 3 PM __________, and he hasn’t arrived.
4. I’ve __________ had lunch, so I’m not hungry.
5. The concert starts in an hour, but the tickets are __________ available online.
6. They __________ haven’t decided where to go for their vacation.
7. I’m sorry, but we __________ left for the airport a few minutes ago.
8. He said he would call, but he hasn’t called me __________.
9. The cake is __________ in the oven, and it smells delicious.
10. She’s been studying for hours, and she’s __________ not done with her homework.

Answers:

1. yet
2. still
3. already
4. already
5. still
6. still
7. already
8. yet
9. still
10. still