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Grammar - Everyday Grammar - Four Adverbs: Just, Already, Still,
Yet |
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| Four Adverbs: Just, Already, Still, Yet |
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 Four
Adverbs: Just, Already, Still, Yet
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
grammar topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information. |
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this grammar
topic. Then read the following written information. |
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Four Adverbs: Just, Already,
Still, Yet |
Sometimes, the most common words in the English language
can cause the most trouble.
Today, we will talk about four adverbs that are often
unclear to English learners. All four words relate to
time in some way. They are “just,�� “already,” “still”
and “yet.”
There are a few reasons for the lack of clarity.
Some English learners mistake “just” and “already” as
having the same meaning. The same is true for the
adverbs “still” and “yet.”
Another reason for the lack of clarity may be that, in
some languages, a single adverb can have many meanings.
In Portuguese, for example, the word “já” means
“already” and “yet” and sometimes “just.”
Whatever the reason, we are here today to lessen
confusion around these adverbs and help you use them
correctly.
First, close your eyes and imagine a telephone call
between two friends going to the movies. You will hear
the four adverbs used. Think about their meanings and
how each is different:
Hi, Sue!
How’s it going? Hey, quick question: Should we buy
tickets online or at the theater?
Don’t worry. I already got the tickets! I bought them
this morning.
You’re the best. Thanks!
Anytime. Anyway, I just left the house. I’ll be at the
theater in 20 minutes.
OK. But I’m still getting ready. And I have not eaten
yet. But I’ll get a taxi and be there around 6:15.
That works! When I find seats, I’ll text you the row
number.
Perfect! See you soon.
What did you learn about the four adverbs and their
differences?
Just
Let’s start with the word “just.” We use “just” to say
that an action has happened very recently or a short
time ago. You heard one speaker say this:
Anyway, I just left the house.
The speaker means “I left the house a very short time
ago.”
How long a very short time is will depend on the
situation. For example, imagine that you had been going
to a university for four years and graduated two weeks
ago. You talk to a family member and they ask what is
new. You say:
I just graduated from college! I’m so happy to finally
be done.
The word “just” was correctly used here because the idea
that something happened recently often depends on the
time length of the action. Four years is a long time, so
graduating two weeks ago is still very recent.
Already
The word “already” is different than “just.”
We usually use “already” to say that an action has
happened early or sooner than expected. Here is the
example from the phone call:
Don’t worry, I already got the tickets!
Here, the speaker means “I got the tickets sooner than
expected." His friend Sue did not expect that the
tickets had been purchased.
The speaker did not use the word “just” here because
they bought the tickets several hours ago. And, in this
situation, that is not a short time ago.
Still
Now, we turn to the adverb “still.”
We use “still” to say that an action is not yet
finished, especially if we expected it to finish sooner.
Here is the example from the phone call:
OK. But I’m still getting ready.
The speaker is saying, “I haven’t finished getting
ready.” And, she probably expected to be ready sooner,
especially since the movie starts soon.
Yet
And, finally, we have the word “yet.”
“Yet” is used for actions that someone is watching for
or expecting to happen. Unlike “still,” with “yet,”
there is no evidence that something was expected to
finish sooner than now.
“Yet” is usually used in questions and negative
sentences. A negative sentence is one that contains the
word “not.”
Listen to the example of “yet” from the phone call.
Notice that the sentence is negative:
And I have not eaten yet.
We also use “yet” in questions, as in this example:
Have you eaten yet?
No, I haven’t.
Yet vs. Still
As you know, in English grammar, there is always an
exception to the rule. Although we mainly use “yet” in
negative sentences, we sometimes use the word “still."
The meaning is very similar but the tone is different.
Listen to two negative sentences. One uses “yet,” while
the other uses “still”:
She hasn’t graduated yet.
She still hasn’t graduated.
To a native English speaker, the word “still” here has a
judgmental tone. It sounds like the speaker thinks the
woman has been in school too long.
Here’s another example that shows a tone change between
"yet" and "still":
They haven’t heard from the doctor yet.
They still haven’t heard from the doctor.
In this example, the word “still” sounds like they have
been waiting a long time to hear from the doctor. They
might even be frustrated about having to wait.
So, do you have a better sense of these four adverbs yet
or do you still have questions? Or both? Visit our
website, where you can practice.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Alice Bryant wrote this story for VOA Learning English.
George Grow was the editor. |
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Words in This Story |
- ticket
- n. a piece of paper
that allows you to see a show, participate in an
event or travel on a vehicle
- graduate
– v. to earn a degree
or diploma from a school, college, or university
- row
– n. a line of seats in
a theater, stadium or another place
- grammar
– n. the set of rules
that explain how words are used in a language
- tone
– n. a quality,
feeling, or attitude expressed by the words that
someone uses in speaking or writing
-
frustrated – adj.
very angry, discouraged or upset because of being
unable to do or complete something
- practice
– v. to do something
again and again in order to become better at it
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Additional Information |
| Adverb |
Meaning |
Position |
Example |
| Just |
An action happened a very short
time ago |
Usually before the main verb |
I just left the house. |
| Already |
An action happened sooner than
expected |
Usually before the main verb |
I already got the tickets! |
| Still |
An action was expected to
finish sooner |
Usually before the main verb |
But I’m still getting ready. |
| Yet |
An action is expected to happen |
Usually at the end of the
sentence |
And I have not eaten yet. |
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Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct word:
The book was supposed to be here last week but it ___
hasn’t arrived.
I’ve ____ been to the Air and Space Museum. Let’s try
the Museum of Natural History instead.
She ____ arrived ten minutes ago. We’re going to catch
up first then we’ll come meet you.
Have you left work ____? I want to tell you a funny
story about my day!
Is the food ready ___? He’s hungry.
Do you ____ live in Washington, DC?
My bag was ____ here a minute ago. Where did it go?
I ___ know what you got me for my birthday! |
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Source: Voice of America |
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Grammar Tips |
Can You Catch These Native Speaker Mistakes?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of common mistakes. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
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