111 : still / any more / yet / already

   A   

Still

 

We use still to say that a situation or action is continuing. It hasn't changed or stopped:

• It's 10 o'clock and Joe is still in bed.
• When I went to bed, Chris was still working.
• Do you still want to go away or have you changed your mind?

 

Still usually goes in the middle of the sentence with the verb (see Unit 110).

 

 

   B   

Any more / any longer / no longer

 

We use not ... any more or not ... any longer to say that a situation has changed. Any more and any longer go at the end of a sentence:

• Lucy doesn't work here any more (or any longer). She left last month. (not Lucy doesn't still work here.)
• We used to be good friends, but we aren't any more (or any longer).

 

You can also use no longer. No longer goes in the middle of the sentence:

• Lucy no longer works here.

 

Note that we do not normally use no more in this way:

• We are no longer friends. (not We are no more friends.)

 

Compare still and not ... any more:

• Sally still works here, but Lucy doesn't work here any more.

 

 

   C   

Yet

 

Yet = until now. We use yet mainly in negative sentences (He isn't here yet) and questions (Is he here yet?). Yet shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen.

 

Yet usually goes at the end of a sentence:

• It's 10 o'clock and Joe isn't here yet.
• Have you met your new neighbours yet?
• 'Where are you going on holiday?'  'We don't know yet.'

 

We often use yet with the present perfect (Have you met ... yet?) See Unit 7D.

 

Compare yet and still:

• Mike lost his job six months ago and is still unemployed.
  Mike lost his job six months ago and hasn't found another job yet.
• Is it still raining?
  Has it stopped raining yet?

 

Still is also possible in negative sentences (before the negative):

• She said she would be here an hour ago and she still hasn't come.

 

This is similar to 'she hasn't come yet'. But still ... not shows a stronger feeling of surprise or impatience. Compare:

• I sent him an invitation last week. He hasn't replied yet. (but I expect he will reply soon)
• I sent him an invitation weeks ago and he still hasn't replied. (he should have replied before now)

 

 

   D   

Already

 

We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected. Already usually goes in the middle of a sentence (see Unit 110):

• 'What time is Sue leaving?'  'She has already left.' (= sooner than you expected)
• Shall I tell Joe what happened or does he already know?
• I've just had lunch and I'm already hungry.