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Tenses & Verb Forms

Yet / Still / Already

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Yet, still, and already are time adverbs that are often confused. They all relate to time, but they express different ideas: expectation, continuation, or completion.

1. Yet → something expected (not happened)

Use yet in negative sentences and questions to talk about something that has not happened but is expected.

  • I haven’t finished yet.
  • Have you eaten yet?

Position: usually at the end of the sentence.

2. Already → something happened earlier than expected

Use already to say something happened before now, often sooner than expected.

  • I’ve already finished.
  • She has already left.

Position: before the main verb or after “have”.

3. Still → something continues

Use still to say that a situation continues and has not changed.

  • I am still working.
  • She still lives here.

Position: before the main verb (or after “be”).

Key differences

  • Yet → not now, but expected
  • Already → sooner than expected
  • Still → continues over time

Compare

  • I haven’t finished yet. (= not now)
  • I’ve already finished. (= done early)
  • I am still finishing. (= in progress)

💡 Tip

  • Yet → end of sentence, negative or question
  • Already → positive, often surprising
  • Still → ongoing situation

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 10Score: 0/10

I haven’t finished ___.

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