Unit 94: still / yet / already

Master time expressions with present perfect

A. still

It is still raining now.

still = something is the same as before:

• I had a lot to eat but I'm still hungry. (= I was hungry before and I'm hungry now)
• 'Did you sell your car?' 'No, I've still got it.'
• 'Do you still live in Barcelona?' 'No, I live in Madrid now.'

B. yet

Bill hasn't come yet.

yet = until now:

We use yet in negative sentences (He hasn't come yet.) and in questions (Has he come yet?).

Yet is usually at the end of a sentence:

• A: Where's Diane?
B: She isn't here yet. (= she will be here but until now she hasn't come)
• A: What are you doing this evening?
B: I don't know yet. (= I will know later but I don't know at the moment)
• A: Are you ready to go yet?
B: Not yet. Wait a moment. (= I will be ready but I'm not ready at the moment)
• A: Have you finished with the newspaper yet?
B: No, I'm still reading it.

Compare yet and still:

• She hasn't gone yet. = She's still here. (not 'She is yet here')
• I haven't finished eating yet. = I'm still eating.

C. already = earlier than expected

• 'What time is John arriving?' 'He's already here.' (= earlier than we expected)
• 'I'm going to tell you what happened.' 'That's not necessary. I already know.'
• Ann doesn't want to go to the cinema. She has already seen the film.

still

I'm still hungry.
I've still got it.
I live in Madrid now.

yet

She isn't here yet.
I don't know yet.
Not yet.

already

He's already here.
I already know.
She has already seen the film.

94.1 You meet Lisa. The last time you saw her was two years ago. You ask her some questions with still.

Lisa – two years ago

Do you still play the piano?
Do you .
Are you .
Do you .
Do you .
Do you .

94.2 Write three sentences for each situation. Look at the example carefully.

(before) They were waiting for the bus.
(still) They are still waiting.
(yet) The bus .
(before) He was looking for a job.
(still) He .
(yet) He .
(before) She was learning to swim.
(still) She .
(yet) She .
(before) They were having dinner.
(still) They .
(yet) They .

94.3 Write questions with yet.

You and Sue are going out together. You are waiting for her to get ready. Perhaps she is ready now. You ask her:
Are you ready yet?
You are waiting for Ann to arrive. She wasn't here ten minutes ago. Perhaps she is here now. You ask somebody:
Is .
Mary did an exam and is waiting for the results. Perhaps she has her results now. You ask her:
Have you .
You ask her: ...
Has he .

94.4 Complete the sentences. Use already.

What time is John arriving? He's already here.
Does Ann want to see the film? No, she .
It's too late. She .
No thank you. I .
No, it's OK. I .
No, he .