Don’t be confused!

still, yet e already

Os alunos de Língua Inglesa normalmente se sentem confusos em relação ao uso destas três palavrinhas; still, yet e already, e como conseqüência, costumam emprega-las de forma desapropriada. Segue abaixo diversos exemplos do uso correto destas palavras:

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

• It’s 11 o’clock and Pedro is still in bed.
• When I went to bed, Maria was still working.
• Do you still want to go to the party or have you changed your mind?

Still usually goes in the middle of the sentence with the verb.

Yet
Yet = “until now”. We use yet mainly in negative sentences (I haven’t finished yet) and questions (Have you finished 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 Pedro hasn’t got up yet!
• I’m hungry. Is dinner ready yet?
• We don’t know where we’re going for our holidays yet.

We often use yet with the present perfect (Have you finished yet?).

Compare yet and still:

• Pedro lost his job a year ago and is still unemployed.
• Jack lost his job a year 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 surprised or impatience. Compare:

• I wrote to him last week. He hasn’t replied yet. (But I expect he will reply soon)
• I wrote to him months ago and he still hasn’t replied. (He would have replied before now)

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

• When is Sue going on holiday? She has already gone! (Sooner than you expected)
• Should I tell Liz the news or does she already know?
• I’ve just had lunch and I’m already hungry.

Como podemos ver, estas três palavrinhas tem uma forma apropriada de uso que se diferencia entre si. Use os exemplos acima como um guia e don’t be confused anymore!

Referências bibliográficas
English Grammar in Use – Cambridge University Press
http://www.planetaeducacao.com.br/portal/index.asp