English Grammar

ALREADY - STILL - ALWAYS - YET

Meaning and use in English.

Already, still, always and yet are words that are often used incorrectly by learners of English.

ALREADY

Already is used to say that something has happened earlier than expected or
earlier than it might have happened :
- Hurry up Susan. Breakfast is ready!
- I've already had breakfast thanks. I woke up early.
- Here's a book you might like.
- I've already read it - I found it interesting too.

STILL

Still is used to refer to continuing situations.
- They've been married for 40 years and they still love each other.
- I moved to this town five years ago and I'm still living here.
- Are you still smoking? I thought you had stopped!
- It's 6 pm. It started raining early this morning and it's still raining!

ALWAYS

Always is used to refer to something that happens regularly, very frequently
or forever.
- I always send cards at Christmas.
- Sue always takes the 8 o'clock train to work.
- Alex is always complaining about his job.
- I promise I will always love you.

YET

Yet is used in questions, to ask if something expected has happened, and in negative sentences.
- Questions:
  - Has the postman arrived yet?
  - Have you booked your ticket yet?
  - Have you finished the book yet?
  - Is dinner ready yet? I'm hungry!

Negative sentences:
To say that something hasn't happened so far, or up until the present, but will probably happen in the future .
- The book I ordered hasn't arrived yet.
  (=I'm still waiting for the book.)
- We have yet to find out the cause of the delay.
  (=We still haven't found out the cause.)
- Julie hasn't yet decided whether she's going to join us or not.
- They haven't set the date of their wedding yet / they haven't yet set the date.

Yet can also be used to link two clauses or contrasting ideas
(in the same way as, for example, 'nevertheless' or 'nonetheless').
- Olivia was offered an interesting job with good pay, yet she refused it.
- Charlie felt alone in the world, yet he was surrounded by friends.
- Mr. Harding was a strict yet fair teacher.
- Carla sings beautifully, yet she prefers to accompany others on the guitar.

Yet can be used to emphasize that someone or something is even better, worse, more, etc. than someone or something else. It usually appears before terms like 'another' or 'again'.
- Don't overcook the fish, or better yet, eat it raw.
- Sunday will be yet another rainy day.
- The photocopier is out of order yet again!
- My mother arrived with yet another dish to taste.