Abbreviations
Verb - Verb
Today we will learn how to use words correctly just, already, yet, still in English. All these words are marker words in Present Perfect tense. An exception is the word still, it can be used in tense Present Perfect, Present Simple and other tenses of the English language. Let's look at each of the words in more detail.
Just
We begin our study with the word just - just now. Used in the Present Perfect tense. In a sentence, the word just stands between have and III (the third form of the verb is Past Participle)
I have just come shop. I just came to the store.
She has just called me. She just called me.
I have just finished my work. I just finished my work.
I have just come back. I have just returned.
I have just drunk a cup of coffee. I just had a cup of coffee.
Already
Word already [ɔːlˈredi] - already implies that something happened earlier than you expected. Also used in the Present Perfect tense and comes between have and III
I have already come. I've already arrived.
He has already called me. He already called me.
I have already done my work. I've already done my job.
I have already learned English. I have already learned English.
I have already watched TV. I've already watched TV.
She has already bought a ticket. She already bought a ticket.
Yet
The word yet also implies that something has not happened before this moment. Yet is used in negation or questioning and is placed at the end of the sentence.
I have not come yet. I haven't arrived yet.
He has not called me yet. He hasn't called me yet.
I haven't called him yet. I haven't called him yet.
I have not watched this movie yet. I haven't seen this movie yet.
We haven't decided this problem yet. We haven't solved this problem yet.
Still
The word still - still implies that the action is still going on, although you thought that it would not last until now.
Adverbs already, yet, just often used with time. It can be confusing to use them because their meanings are similar. In this article we will look at the difference between already, yet and just, as well as features of their use.
Already - this has ALREADY happened
Adverb already(already) is used to talk about something that has already happened. Already used in affirmative and interrogative sentences.
In the statement already means “already” (about a completed action), located between the verb and.
I have already read this novel. – I have already read this novel.
She has already found the way. “She’s already found her way.”
I have already spent my money. - I've already spent my money.
He has already ordered the same meal. – He already ordered the same dish.
Already can be placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that the fact has already happened. In this case already can be translated not only as “already”, but also as “finally”.
You have come already! - Have you come already!
They have fixed the door already! “They already fixed the door!”
She has found the way already. “She finally found her way.”
I have read this novel already. – I finally finished reading this novel.
In an interrogative sentence already adds a shade of surprise: we are surprised that the action has already been completed (How? Already?!) Already stands between to have and a participle or at the end of a sentence, if you need to emphasize surprise.
Have you already spent your money? -Have you already spent your money?
Have you read this novel already? -Have you read this novel? ALREADY?!
Yet – it hasn’t happened YET, but it will happen
Using yet, we mean that the action has not yet happened, but it is expected, that is, yet = “yet (something has not happened).” Yet used in negatives and questions, found at the end of a sentence.
I haven't read this novel yet. – I haven’t read this novel yet.
I haven't sold my bike yet. – I haven’t sold my bike yet.
Asking a question with yet, we clarify: has the expected action already occurred or not? In questions yet usually translated as “already” or “not yet”
Dorothy, have you played with Toto yet? – Dorothy, have you played with Toto yet? (Have you played with Toto yet?)
Have you seen the new teacher yet? -Have you seen the new teacher yet? (Have you seen the new teacher yet?)
Negative question with yet expresses even more anticipation for some action to happen. There may be a hint of reproach or even threat here.
Dorothy, haven't you played with Toto yet? – Dorothy, haven’t you played with Toto yet? (When you already play with him!)
Hasn't he done his homework yet? – Has he still not done his homework?
Note: The phrase “Not yet” is often used as a short answer to the question of whether something has been done:
– Have you talked to your boss? – Have you already talked to your boss?
– Not yet. - Not yet.
Difference between questions with already and yet
Please note that in interrogative sentences yet is translated as “already”, but this is not the same “already” as in questions with already.
- Asking a question with already, we express surprise: how? has it already happened?
Have you already made a hundred paper airplanes? – Have you ALREADY made a hundred paper airplanes?!
Have you already eaten the pie? “Have you already eaten the pie?”
- Asking a question with yet, we just want to clarify whether the action was performed or not.
Have you made a hundred paper airplanes yet? Have you already made a hundred paper airplanes?
Have you eaten the pie yet? Have you already eaten the pie?
Just is JUST HAPPENED
Beyond adverbs already And yet, with Present Perfect tense often used just - “just now”. Wherein just can only be between to have and the past participle.
Sorry, I have just sold my car. Sorry, I just sold my car.
I have just decided to hire a new assistant. I have just decided to hire a new assistant.
Our train has just arrived. - Our train has just arrived.
Just is a polysemantic word. Here are other meanings.
I would like to know which of these sentences is correct:
- I thought they would still be alive.
- I thought they still were alive.
- I thought they would be alive still.
- I thought they were alive still.
- I thought they would be still alive.
- I thought they were still alive.
Translator's note: the question essentially comes down to how to correctly determine the place of an adverb still (still, still, still) in a sentence.
Marcel Caldeira, Brazil
- Answer
Marcel thanks for posting that question.
Thanks for sending in the question, Marcel.
In fact all the sentences you wrote are correct but the most common one in English is the first one, ‘I thought they would still be alive’. With adverbs like ‘still’, the most natural positioning is between the auxiliary/modal and the base verb. 'Still' is used to say that something in the present, not the past, has surprisingly not finished. Listen to these examples:
Actually, all your sentences are correct, but the most common option in English is the first one, "I thought they would still be alive – I thought they were still alive." The most natural arrangement of such adverbs as still (still, still, still) – between the auxiliary/modal and main verbs. Still used when you need to say how something in the present, and not in the past tense, surprisingly, has not yet been completed. Listen to these examples:
- She's still sleeping.
- She's still sleeping.
- You’re not still working are you?
- You're still not working, are you?
- They are still arguing about the phone bill.
- They are still arguing about the phone bills.
Right, back to your sentences. Even though the first and second sentence mean the same, there is a difference in emphasis, they stress different things. What I mean is this:
Let's get back to your suggestions. Although the first and second sentences mean the same thing, there are differences in intonation because the emphasis is on different words. Here's what I mean:
- - here ‘alive’ is emphasized as the most important aspect.
- I thought they would still be alive- here “alive” is highlighted as the most important.
- - in this example ‘still’ is stressed as the most important aspect.
- I thought they would be alive still- in this example, “still” is highlighted as the most important part.
Your third sentence, "I thought they would be still alive', is the most unusual and unnatural way of expressing the sentence. It doesn't sound like modern English at all so I suggest you focus on the structure presented in the first two sentences Just choose between them according to the emphasis that you"d like to express.
Your third sentence, " I thought they would be still alive" is the most unusual and unnatural way of expressing an idea. It is not at all similar to modern English, so I can advise you to limit yourself to the structure presented in the first two sentences. Just choose between them depending on which word should be emphasized in meaning.
In this article we will help you understand in what cases the adverbs just (just), already (already), yet (already, yet), still (until now) are used and how they are related to the Present Perfect (present perfect tense) .
Knowing how to correctly use the adverbs just, already, yet and still, you will be able to competently construct your speech, and when reading or watching videos in English, you will be able to better navigate the time frame of events. As video examples, we will show excerpts from Harry Potter.
Just
Most often, just acts as a time marker word for the Present Perfect and is translated as “just now.” It is mainly used in statements and placed before the semantic verb:
I have just woken up. - I just now awoke.
Tony has just booked the ticket. - Tony just now ordered a ticket.
Look! We have just fixed your camera. - Look! We just now We fixed your camera.
I've just seen him around. - I him just now saw it nearby.
Just can be used as a synonym for only, in which case just will mean “only”, “only”, “merely”. If there is a verb to be in a sentence, just comes immediately after it:
This cough medicine costs just 100 rubles. - This cough medicine costs only One hundred rubles.
He is just a kid. - He only child.
We are just watching. - We only let's look.
Just can also appear as a synonym for exactly. In this case, just will be translated as “exactly”, “exactly”.
You act just like your father! - You're behaving exactly How is your father!
Just can act as a synonym for the words simply (simple), absolutely (absolutely) to emphasize the statement:
It is just perfect! - This Just perfect!
You can use just to do imperative mood more sharp:
Just shut up! - Shut up!
We can also use just to make a request a little more polite:
Could you just give me a piece of advice? - Could you give me some advice?
Already
The word already most often acts as a present perfect tense marker. In this case, it is translated as “already” and stands between the auxiliary and semantic verbs. Already is usually used in affirmative sentences.
I've already seen this film. - I already saw this movie.
Debbie has already settled down in NY. - Debbie already settled in New York.
They have already checked out. - They already left the hotel.
Already can mean "earlier than expected." Used in affirmative and interrogative sentences.
Timmy is only 18 but he is already a head of the company. - Timmy is only 18, and he already head of the company.
Are they already here? - They already Here?
Look! I can already ride a bicycle! - Look! I already I can ride a bike!
To express surprise, we put already at the end of the sentence.
Are you moving to US already? - You already moving to the United States?
Yet
Yet often acts as a present perfect tense marker and comes at the end of a sentence. IN negative sentence yet is translated as “yet”, and in an interrogative - “already”. Let's look at examples English sentences with the word yet:
Have you fed the dog yet? - You already fed the dog?
Has he cleaned up his room yet? - He already cleaned your room?
Eddy hasn't told me anything yet. - Eddie to me more didn't say anything.
They haven't come back yet. - They more didn't return.
Yet may mean that something has not yet happened, but we expect it to happen in the future. In these cases, yet can be translated as “for now”, “still”.
This service is not yet available. - This service for now not available.
The situation is really dangerous, but help can yet come. - The situation is really dangerous, but help still may come.
Yet occurs in affirmative sentences together with an adjective superlatives and is translated as "at the moment", "at the current time":
This is his best song yet! - This is his best song for now!
Yet can also be translated as "but", "however", "despite". In this case, yet is at the beginning or middle of the sentence:
Yet it is terrible weather outside, we have decided to go for a walk. - Despite terrible weather, we decided to go for a walk.
Our Xbox is broken, yet we are having much fun. - Our Xbox is broken, But we continue to have fun.
Yet can be used to emphasize something, to express surprise or indignation. Together with the words more (yet), another (one more) and again (again), the meaning of yet is close to even (even more).
We'll need yet more chocolate. - We will need even more chocolate.
The teacher gave us yet another task! - The teacher gave us Another exercise!
This proves yet again that she was right. - This again proves she was right.
Still
Still means that something has remained unchanged. This adverb is used in situations where something takes longer to happen than expected. It is most often translated into Russian as “until now”, “still”.
It still drives people crazy. - This still drives people crazy.
In the same meaning, still can be found after the modal and auxiliary verbs or after the verb to be.
I can still see you. - I still I see you.
She looked around, and they were still looking at her. - She looked back, but they still looked at her.
They are still happy. - They still happy.
With still you can express dissatisfaction with the current situation if you put it after the subject in a negative sentence:
You still don’t understand this grammar rule! - You still you don't understand this grammar rule!
We can use still when something happened despite any circumstances. In this case, it is synonymous with the phrase on the other hand (on the other hand) and the adverb nevertheless (but still):
Marcus had overslept but still he got to the meeting on time. - Marcus overslept but still got to the meeting on time.
I hate jogging. Still I have to do it to keep fit. - I hate running. But still I have to do this to keep myself in shape.
What is the difference between still and yet? To answer this question, let's look at examples:
He is still hungry. - He still hungry.
He hasn't eaten yet. - He more did not eat.
She is still crying. - She still crying.
She hasn't stopped crying yet. - She more didn't stop crying.
Still indicates the duration of the action and that the action has not yet ended. Yet means that the expected action has not yet occurred.
We hope that the article was useful, and the use of already, just, yet and still will no longer cause difficulties.
We suggest you go small test to consolidate the knowledge gained.
Adverb still emphasizes the constancy of a certain moment and is translated into Russian as “still, until now.” Usually found in the middle of a sentence.
I had two glasses of juice but I'm still thirsty. I drank two glasses of juice, but I'm still thirsty.
Do you still live in Australia? No, I moved to Canada a month ago. Do you still live in Australia? No, I moved to Canada a month ago.
2
Adverb yet It is placed in negative and interrogative sentences, occupying a final position. When negated, its meaning is similar to still. Compare both forms:
It hasn't come yet. He has not come yet.
He is still at work ( Wrong: He is yet at work). He's still at work.
But unlike still, design not+yet always indicates an expectation of a change in the situation. We hope that in the future the unaccomplished event will finally happen.
I’ve learned English for two years but I still can’t speak it. I studied English for two years, but I still can't speak it.
I can’t speak English yet but I will soon. I can't speak English yet, but I will soon.
In questions yet also implies anticipation of what is about to happen. We ask whether something has already happened by now.
Has the train arrived yet? Has the train arrived yet?
Are you ready yet? Not yet. Wait a minute. Are you ready? Not yet. Wait a minute.
3
Adverb already tells us that the moment has arrived earlier than expected. Placed either in the middle or, in emphatic emphasis, at the end of a sentence.
In interrogative forms, try to distinguish the context “already” for yet And already. In the first case, we are interested in whether something happened at all or not, in the second, we realize that the event has happened and only emphasize its unexpectedness.
Are you at home yet? Are you home already (I don’t know if you are home, but I hope)?
Are you at home already? Are you home already (I'm surprised so quickly)?
