"Still"
and "Yet" "Again" and "Already" and even "always",
are words
which often cause trouble for students of English. So let's try and
distinguish clearly between them.
The problem arises
because other
languages do not have an equivalent choice of words, and one word
covers different meanings; French
encore
and German
noch,
for example, can be either "still" or "yet" or "again", and sometimes
even
"always" or "already" in English. Dictionaries don't always
clearly
distinguish between the different uses.
► 1.
STILL
Still
implies a
continuing
action, and is generally used in
affirmative
sentences;
for example:
A1
The
computer is still analysing the data.
A2 They
were still talking at midnight.
The action is continuous, and the verb tense with still in this sense
is usually a progressive form, except with
be, have and verbs
of
primary perception, as in
A3
I
still have that picture you gave me.
A4 I
can still see him.
or when referring to habitual action:
A5
She
still shops at Sainsbury's.
1b. No longer: STILL
is
not
often found in negative sentences: to avoid confusion, it is usually
replaced by
no
longer (or
not ... any more) . Note: "
no
more" should not be used.
The negative versions of examples A1 - A3 could be:
B1
The
computer is not analysing the data any more
B2 They
were no longer talking at midnight.
B21:
but not:
They
were no more talking
at midnight.
B3
I no longer have that picture you gave me.
IMPORTANT: When
still
is used with
not,
the position of still before or after the "not" is vital for
determining the meaning of the sentence!! If
still comes
before the
verb, this does not mean that an action has stopped, but that it has
not yet
begun. For example:
B
31 I
still
do
not have the picture means that
I am waiting to receive it, I have not yet received it.
However
B 32 I
do
not
still have the picture means the same as
I
no longer have the picture but I had it earlier.
TIP: to
avoid mistakes, do not
use STILL
in negative contexts! There are always
alternative expressions !
1c. STILL
and
ALWAYS:
These words are NOT synonymous in English. By using "still", one
implies that an action is not permanent, and will be terminated at some
moment. By using "always", one implies that an action is permanent and
is not likely to be terminated or cease.
B
41 He's
still waiting for the bus.
B 42 He
always goes home by bus.
► 2. YET
Yet normally accompanied by
NOT,
implies
non-commenced
or
non-terminated action.
It is most commonly found in
negative
statements - but it is not a simple negative equivalent of
still.
YET does
not
imply discontinued action, i.e. action that has finished.
For
example:
C1.
The
computer has not yet analysed the data.
C4. I
can't yet see him (he hasn't appeared).
YET
is very
rare
in
affirmative
statements. However it
can be used in
affirmative questions:
C5
Have you yet
seen the new James Bond movie ?
When
yet is used in
affirmative
statements, it actually
implies
a
negative,
as in:
C51
I've yet to
see the new James Bond movie.
which means the same as
I have not yet
seen the movie, but I will soon see it maybe.
TIP:
to
avoid mistakes, do not
use
YET
in affirmative statements.
► 2.1 CONFUSION
between STILL
and YET.
Confusion is easiest in
QUESTIONS:
the difference between
continuing
action (still)and
incipient
(beginning) action (yet) is fundamental. When a person asks a question,
they may not know if an
action is commenced, or terminated; the word "
yet" leaves this
option open, as in example D5.
Compare:
D1 He's used the new machine for a
year now; can he still
remember how to use the old one?
D2 He's
only lived here for a week: has he yet
found out where the best
pizzeria is?
D3
Can you see anything yet
? or Can
you yet
see anything ?
(Question,
meaning "Have you
started to see something?")
D4 Can
you still
see anything?
(Question meaning: "Is was visible; but is it
visible now?")
D5 Have
you yet
had any rain ?
(Open question implying "Maybe
you have, maybe you have
not".)
►
3 ALREADY
Already
implies
terminated
action (D1 or D2) or an
acquired state
(D3 or D4). In British English, already is normally used with
a present perfect; American speakers often use it with a preterite.
Examples;
D1
I've
already been to London three times.
D2 We
already went to Chicago twice this year.
D3 She already has three children
D4 The box was already broken when I found it.
►4.
AGAIN
Again always
implies
repeated
action
E1
I
went to Paris last week, and I went there again this week.
E2
You
haven't broken your CD-player again, have you?
RECAPITULATION
|
Affirmative
context |
negative context |
Interrogative
context |
(Non)-commenced
action |
|
not yet |
yet |
Continuing
action |
still |
no
longer, (not still) |
still |
Terminated
action |
already |
no
longer |
yet
/ already |
Repeated
action |
again |
again |
again |