Still, Yet and Already: Beyond the Present Perfect

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Still, Yet and Already: Beyond the Present Perfect

In this lesson, you can express continuation across present and past contexts.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Describe an unfinished action expected by now.

See one possible response

The parcel hasn’t arrived yet.

You compare expected and actual progress while preparing a small exhibition.

What you will practise
  • Express continuation across present and past contexts.
  • State that a situation is true by a reference point.
  • Distinguish not yet from continuing delay and use suitable question/negative forms.

Try each response before revealing a model. Equivalent grammatical answers are welcome when they preserve the task meaning.

Still: the situation continues

Still says that a situation continues at the relevant time: The room is still empty. I still need the list. Put still after ordinary be but normally before a main lexical verb. A past statement can use still too: We were still waiting at six.

The printer is still working.

I still need two labels.

The verb pattern guides the position of still

With be
the printeris stillworking

The printer is still working.

With a main lexical verb
Istill needtwo labels

I still need two labels.

Still follows is in the first pattern. It normally comes before need in the second. Both present a situation as continuing.
They peer through an open isolated doorway at two visibly empty chairs and an unused meeting lectern, showing that the room remains empty. No other person appears inside the room.
The room is still empty.Still presents continuation.

Already: before the relevant expectation or point

Already presents something as true by the reference point, often earlier than expected: The hall is already full. We already know the route. It is not restricted to the present perfect. The exact feeling depends on context, not on the word alone.

It’s only ten, and the café is already busy.

At noon, they already had the results.

Yet: expected by now or then?

Yet often appears in questions and negatives: Is it ready yet? It isn’t ready yet. It asks about or marks an expected development not completed by the reference point. Still not often stresses continuing delay: It’s still not ready. Do not force every phrase into one tense.

Are the chairs ready yet?

At six, the doors weren’t open yet.

At an analogue clock showing six through hand positions, they wait outside a closed pair of entrance doors with their tickets, mildly disappointed. The doors have not opened yet; do not show entrance or completed access.
At six, the doors weren’t open yet.Yet refers to an expected development by that past reference point.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. I ___ need your address. The need continues.

Compare a model and explanation

still

Still marks continuation.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. The room is empty. Add still.

Compare a model and explanation

The room is still empty.

Still normally follows ordinary be.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. The room is already full. Make it about noon yesterday.

Compare a model and explanation

At noon yesterday, the room was already full.

Already can relate to a past point.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. The printer is ready. Ask about readiness by now with yet.

Compare a model and explanation

Is the printer ready yet?

Yet asks whether the expected development has occurred.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. It isn’t ready yet. It’s still not ready. Which more directly highlights continuing delay?

Compare a model and explanation

It’s still not ready.

Still explicitly foregrounds continuation of the negative state.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. I need still the code. Use the neutral position.

Compare a model and explanation

I still need the code.

Still normally precedes the main verb need.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. At nine, they already knew the answer. Must this be present perfect?

Compare a model and explanation

No.

Already works with the past state knew.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. Labels: done earlier than expected. Chairs: not ready. Printer: continues working.

Compare a model and explanation

The labels are already done. The chairs aren’t ready yet. The printer is still working.

Use each adverb for a different status meaning.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Organiser: Is the display ready yet?

Assistant: Not yet. I still need two labels.

Organiser: The entrance is already open, so visitors may arrive soon.

Assistant: I know. The printer is still working; I’ll bring the labels shortly.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. What does already highlight here?
Read the listening transcript

The café is already full, although it is only eight o’clock.

2. What continued at seven?
Read the listening transcript

At seven, we were still waiting outside.

3. What is true at the time of the reply?
Read the listening transcript

Are the tickets available yet? Not yet. Please check this afternoon.

Answer key with explanations

  1. What does already highlight here?

    Fullness has happened earlier than the context suggests was expected.: Only eight supplies the early reference point.

    Compare all choices
    • The café is empty.: Full is explicit.
    • Fullness has happened earlier than the context suggests was expected.: Only eight supplies the early reference point.
    • The café will definitely close forever.: No closure is mentioned.

  2. What continued at seven?

    Waiting outside.: Still marks that continuing activity.

    Compare all choices
    • A new journey beginning exactly at seven.: No beginning at seven is stated.
    • A completed departure.: They are still waiting, not described as departed.
    • Waiting outside.: Still marks that continuing activity.

  3. What is true at the time of the reply?

    Tickets are not available then.: Not yet states the current negative status.

    Compare all choices
    • Tickets are not available then.: Not yet states the current negative status.
    • Tickets are already available.: That contradicts the reply.
    • Tickets can never become available.: Not yet does not mean never.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Choose the neutral position with need.
2. Choose the neutral position with ordinary be.
3. Which question asks about an expected development?
4. Can already occur with a past-simple state?
5. What does not yet not mean by itself?
6. Which highlights a continuing negative state?
7. Choose the accurate past update.
8. Which set keeps three status meanings distinct?
Answer key with explanations

  1. Choose the neutral position with need.

    I still need the key.: Still normally precedes the main lexical verb.

    Compare all choices
    • I still need the key.: Still normally precedes the main lexical verb.
    • I need the still key.: Still is not modifying the noun key.
    • I need still the key.: This is not the neutral position requested.

  2. Choose the neutral position with ordinary be.

    The room is still empty.: Still follows is here.

    Compare all choices
    • The still room is empty.: That makes still appear to modify room, not the state’s continuation.
    • The room is still empty.: Still follows is here.
    • The room still empty is.: The verb is misplaced.

  3. Which question asks about an expected development?

    Is it ready yet?: Yet asks whether readiness has been reached.

    Compare all choices
    • Is it never ready every always?: The adverbs do not form a coherent question.
    • What colour is it?: This asks about colour, not development.
    • Is it ready yet?: Yet asks whether readiness has been reached.

  4. Can already occur with a past-simple state?

    Yes: They already knew.: It is not restricted to the present perfect.

    Compare all choices
    • Yes: They already knew.: It is not restricted to the present perfect.
    • Only if knew becomes knowing.: No such requirement exists.
    • No, only have/has is allowed.: That rule is too narrow.

  5. What does not yet not mean by itself?

    Never at any future time.: It marks non-completion by a point, not permanent impossibility.

    Compare all choices
    • Not completed by the relevant point.: That is its ordinary meaning here.
    • Never at any future time.: It marks non-completion by a point, not permanent impossibility.
    • An expected development is under discussion.: That expectation is compatible with the phrase.

  6. Which highlights a continuing negative state?

    It’s still not ready.: Still foregrounds the ongoing delay.

    Compare all choices
    • It was ready last week.: This gives a past positive state.
    • It’s already ready.: That states readiness achieved.
    • It’s still not ready.: Still foregrounds the ongoing delay.

  7. Choose the accurate past update.

    At six, the doors weren’t open yet.: The expected opening had not happened by that past point.

    Compare all choices
    • At six, the doors weren’t open yet.: The expected opening had not happened by that past point.
    • At six yesterday, the doors isn’t open yet.: The tense and agreement do not fit.
    • At six, yet the open weren’t doors.: The clause order is incorrect.

  8. Which set keeps three status meanings distinct?

    Already finished; still working; not ready yet.: These express achieved, continuing and not-yet-achieved states.

    Compare all choices
    • Finished still yet already nothing.: This does not communicate the three statuses.
    • Already finished; still working; not ready yet.: These express achieved, continuing and not-yet-achieved states.
    • Already always means angry; still always means past; yet always means never.: All three claims are false absolutes.

Use it in your own words

Three statuses

Give one continuing state, one already-achieved state and one not-yet-achieved state.

Reveal a possible response

We’re still waiting for the chairs. The invitations are already sent. The room isn’t ready yet.

  • Use each adverb meaningfully
  • Keep the subjects clear

Fictional project details are fine.

Past reference point

Describe three things at a particular time yesterday using still, already and yet.

Reveal a possible response

At five, we were still cleaning. We already had the keys, but the lights weren’t working yet.

  • Keep a clear past point
  • Match verbs to that point

Other coherent states are welcome.

Put it all together

Give an exhibition update comparing an expected schedule with reality. Mention a source for one expectation and explain one next action.

Reveal a possible response

According to the plan, we should open at six. The signs are already up, but we’re still waiting for the chairs. The side room isn’t ready yet, so we’ll use the main room first.

  • Retrieve attribution
  • Distinguish three statuses
  • Make a practical response

The schedule is fictional and may be changed.

Take it with you

Still marks continuation. Yet often relates an unfulfilled expectation to now or another point. Already can mark earlier fulfilment; the words are not limited to one tense.