Still vs. Yet. vs. Already vs. Just

• He STILL hasn’t passed his driving test …… is similar to ….. He hasn’t passed his driving test YET.

Except that the second sentences sounds more optimistic. STILL looks back to the past  (‘After all this time!’) while YET looks forward to the future (‘Almost there!’).

• Have you finished your homework YET ….. is similar to ….. Have you finished your homework ALREADY?

Except that ALREADY shows surprise (‘So soon!’)

• All three are usually – but not exclusively – used with the Present Perfect:

Still before the verb or the negative auxiliary:   ‘I still don’t know.’
Yet at the end of the sentence.                                  ‘I don’t know yet.’
Already before the verb or at the end.                    ‘I already knew / I knew already’

• ‘Just’ is used to mean ‘acaba de…’ (ha justo…) and is used between HAVE / HAS and the Past Participle. It is used with the affirmative:

‘I have just seen a ghost!’

‘They’ve just finished.’

Now add STILL, YET, JUST or ALREADY to the following sentences. In some cases there is more than one option. Choose the most likely.

1. – ‘Have you bought the tickets?’      – ‘Yes, I have got them.’
2. – ‘Can I speak to the manager?’       – ‘I’m afraid he’s left.’
3. – ‘Are your parents here?’                   
   (There are two options with very different meanings)
4. – ‘I haven’t met her parents.’
5. – ‘Do you play football?
6. –  ‘James had eaten when he was invited for lunch.’

 
ANSWERS!

‘Have you bought the tickets YET?’      – ‘Yes, I have JUST / ALREADY got them.’

– ‘Can I speak to the manager?’       – ‘I’m afraid he’s JUST / ALREADY left.’ /’I’m afraid he’s left ALREADY.’

– ‘Are your parents here YET?’ (They are about to arrive)    – ‘Are your parents STILL here?’ (They are about to leave)

– ‘I haven’t met her parents YET.’ / ‘I STILL haven’t met her parents.’

-‘Do you STILL play rugby?’

– ‘James had JUST / ALREADY eaten when he was invited for lunch.’