STILL | ALREADY | JUST | YET - English grammar

Summary

In this engaging lesson, English educator Arnel delves into the nuances of four commonly confused words related to the concept of time: 'still,' 'already,' 'just,' and 'yet.' He emphasizes the importance of understanding their definitions, usage in positive and negative statements, question formation, and placement within a sentence. Additionally, he touches upon the subtle differences between American and British English. Arnel uses the example of preparing for a dinner with his boss to illustrate how these words can be effectively incorporated into a single context, providing a practical application for learners. The lesson is not only informative but also serves as a reminder of the flexibility and expressiveness of the English language.

Takeaways

• 📚 **Still** is used to emphasize that an action is ongoing and can be surprising. It can be used in the present, past, and future tenses.
• 📍 **Still** can be positioned before the main verb, after the auxiliary verb (like a sandwich), or after 'be' forms in a sentence.
• 🚫 In negatives, **still** is placed before the auxiliary verbs, as in 'I still don't know how to use chopsticks.'
• 🕒 **Already** indicates that something happened sooner than expected or before something else. It can be used in present, past, and future tenses.
• 🔄 The position of **already** is similar to **still**, but it can also be placed at the end of a sentence for a more informal and emphatic tone.
• ❄️ **Just** is used for something that happened very recently, right before now or another event.
• 📉 The position for **just** is before the main verb, between the auxiliary and the main verb, or after 'be'.
• 🤔 **Yet** is used in negatives and questions to express that an action hasn't happened and is expected or awaited.
• ➡️ **Yet** is typically placed at the end of a clause or sentence to give emphasis to the expectation of an action.
• 🇺🇸🇬🇧 There is a preference in American English to use the past simple with **already**, **just**, and **yet**, while British English tends to use the present perfect.
• 🍽 An example situation illustrates the use of all four words: 'They're not here yet, but they'll be here in about 30 minutes. I already made the potatoes and the salad. The fish is still in the oven, and I just remembered I didn't buy any drinks.'
• 📈 Learning the positions of **still** will make understanding the positions of **already**, **just**, and **yet** easier due to their similar adverbial properties.

Q & A

What are the four aspects to consider when understanding the use of common English words?

The four aspects to consider are: 1. the definition, 2. when to use these words in positive statements, negatives, and questions, 3. the position in a sentence, and 4. the difference between American English and British English.

How is the word 'still' used in English to describe an action?

The word 'still' is used to emphasize that an action is ongoing and continuing. It is often used when the continuation of an action is surprising.

Can you provide an example of how 'still' is used in a sentence?

An example is 'My brother still lives with my parents.' This emphasizes that despite his age (38 in the example), he continues to live with his parents.

In what positions can the adverb 'still' be placed in a sentence?

The adverb 'still' can be placed in the middle position, which can be before the main verb, after the auxiliary verb and before the main verb (like a sandwich), or after 'be' forms.

What is the difference in the placement of 'still' in negative sentences?

In negative sentences, 'still' is placed before the auxiliary verbs, as in 'I still don't know how to use chopsticks.'

How is the word 'already' used in English?

The word 'already' is used to express surprise that something happened before it was expected or earlier than expected. It can be used in the present, past, and future tenses.

What is a casual and emphatic way to use 'already' in a sentence?

Using 'already' at the end of a sentence or clause is more informal and casual, as in 'No thank you, I had one already.'

What is the typical position for 'already' in a sentence?

The typical positions for 'already' are before the main verb, between the auxiliary and the main verb, and after 'be'.

What is the difference between American and British English usage of 'already'?

Generally, Americans tend to use the past simple with 'already', while speakers of British English tend to use the present perfect. This is a preference rather than a strict grammatical rule.

How is the word 'just' used to describe the timing of an event?

The word 'just' is used to describe something that happened immediately before the current moment or right before something else. It conveys a sense of very recent past.

What are the three typical positions for the adverb 'just' in a sentence?

The three typical positions for 'just' are before the main verb, between the auxiliary and the main verb, and after 'be'.

How is the word 'yet' used in English, and where is it typically placed in a sentence?

The word 'yet' is used in negatives and questions to express that an expected action has not yet occurred. It is typically placed at the end of a clause or sentence.

What is another structure in which 'yet' can be used in a positive sentence?

In a positive sentence, 'yet' can be used in the structure 'have yet to/has yet to' followed by an infinitive to express that something is expected or awaited.

Can you provide an example of how all four words 'still', 'already', 'just', and 'yet' are used in a single situation?

An example is: 'My boss and his wife are coming over for dinner. They're not here yet, but they'll be here in about 30 minutes. I already made the potatoes and the salad. The fish is still in the oven, the fish is still baking. And I just remembered, I didn't buy any drinks.'

Outlines

00:00

😀 Understanding Commonly Confused Words in English

In this paragraph, Arnel introduces the topic of the video, which is about distinguishing between four common English words that students often confuse. He outlines the four aspects they will explore: definitions, usage in positive statements, negatives, questions, sentence position, and differences between American and British English. Arnel emphasizes the focus on the words in relation to time and begins with the word 'still,' explaining its use to emphasize ongoing actions and its placement in sentences.

05:10

📚 Positioning of 'Still' and Introduction to 'Already'

Arnel delves into the positioning of 'still' in a sentence, comparing it to other adverbs like 'already' and 'yet.' He provides examples of 'still' in different tenses and explains its placement before the main verb, after the auxiliary verb, and after forms of 'be.' The paragraph also introduces 'already,' illustrating its use to express surprise when something happens sooner than expected. Arnel contrasts the positions of 'already' with 'still,' noting that 'already' remains in the same position in negatives and questions, unlike 'still.'

10:11

🕒 Using 'Just' and 'Yet' for Recent Actions and Expectations

The third paragraph discusses the use of 'just' for actions that occurred very recently and 'yet' for actions that are expected but have not yet happened. Arnel explains that 'just' is used to convey that something happened shortly before the present moment, while 'yet' is placed at the end of a sentence or clause to indicate anticipation or waiting for an action. He also touches on the formal structure 'have yet to/has yet to' for expressing expectations in a positive context, before concluding with a practical example that incorporates all four words.

15:12

🍽️ Applying the Words in a Real-Life Scenario

In the final paragraph, Arnel creates a scenario where he is preparing for his boss's visit to illustrate the practical application of 'still,' 'already,' 'just,' and 'yet.' He uses 'yet' to express that his boss and his wife have not arrived, 'already' to indicate that he has completed making the potatoes and salad, 'still' to describe the ongoing baking of the fish, and 'just' to convey that he has newly remembered the lack of drinks. This scenario encapsulates the nuanced use of each word in context.

Keywords

💡still

The adverb 'still' is used to emphasize that an action is ongoing or continuing. In the context of the video, it is often used to express surprise that an action continues, especially when the continuation is unexpected. For example, 'It's still raining' emphasizes that the rain is continuing, which might be surprising to the listener. It can be positioned before the main verb, after an auxiliary verb, or after a 'be' form, and is also used in negative sentences before the auxiliary verb.

💡already

'Already' is used to express that something has happened sooner than expected or before a certain point in time. It conveys a sense of surprise or an event occurring earlier than anticipated. In the video, it is shown that 'already' is often used in positive statements and can be positioned before the main verb, between an auxiliary and a main verb, or after a 'be' verb. It can also be used at the end of a sentence for a more informal and emphatic tone.

💡just

The adverb 'just' refers to something that has happened very recently, right before the current moment or another event. It is used to convey the idea that an action took place a short time ago. In the video, 'just' is used to describe actions that have taken place within the last few minutes or a short while back, such as 'I was just there' or 'Rachel has just called.' It can be positioned in the same way as 'still' and 'already', highlighting the immediacy of the action.

💡yet

'Yet' is used to indicate that an expected action has not occurred up to the present time. It is commonly found in negative sentences and questions, where the speaker is waiting for something to happen or inquiring about an action that has not yet taken place. In the video, 'yet' is shown to be positioned at the end of a clause or sentence, emphasizing expectation or anticipation, as in 'They're not here yet' or 'Has the meeting started yet?'

💡position

In the context of the video, 'position' refers to the placement of adverbs like 'still', 'already', 'just', and 'yet' within a sentence. Understanding the position of these adverbs is crucial for their correct usage and to convey the intended meaning effectively. The video explains that these adverbs can be placed before the main verb, between an auxiliary and a main verb, or after a 'be' verb, with slight variations depending on the tense and structure of the sentence.

💡negative statements

Negative statements are sentences that express the non-occurrence of an action or the denial of a statement. In the video, the use of 'still', 'already', 'just', and 'yet' in negative sentences is discussed. For example, 'I still don't know how to use chopsticks' is a negative statement where 'still' is placed before the auxiliary verb 'do' to indicate an ongoing lack of knowledge.

💡questions

Questions in the video are used to illustrate the use of 'yet' at the end of a sentence to inquire about an action that has not happened or is expected to happen. The video explains that 'yet' is typically used in questions to express anticipation or to ask if an event has occurred, as in 'Has the meeting started yet?'

💡positive statements

Positive statements are used to affirm something or to state a fact. In the video, the use of 'still', 'already', and 'just' in positive statements is discussed to show ongoing actions, completed actions before now, or very recent actions, respectively. For instance, 'The fish is still baking' is a positive statement indicating an ongoing action.

💡American English vs. British English

The video highlights a preference difference between American and British English in the use of 'already', 'just', and 'yet'. It is noted that American English speakers tend to use the past simple tense with these adverbs, while British English speakers prefer the present perfect tense. This difference is not a strict grammatical rule but rather a variation in usage.

💡time

The main theme of the video revolves around the concept of 'time' and how the four adverbs 'still', 'already', 'just', and 'yet' are used to express different temporal relationships within a sentence. Time is a central concept as it helps to understand the nuances of these adverbs in relation to ongoing actions, completed actions, recent actions, and expected actions.

💡emphasis

Emphasis is a linguistic device used to highlight or stress a particular part of a sentence. In the video, the use of 'still', 'already', 'just', and 'yet' is shown to add emphasis to the timing of actions. For example, 'I am still sick' emphasizes that the sickness is continuing, which might be surprising or noteworthy to the listener.

Highlights

Four common words English learners often confuse are discussed: still, already, just, and yet.

The four aspects to consider when understanding these words are definition, usage in positive/negative statements/questions, sentence position, and differences between American and British English.

Still emphasizes that an action is ongoing and is often used when the continuation is surprising.

Still can be used in the middle position in a sentence, before the main verb, after the auxiliary verb, or after the 'be' form.

In negatives, still is placed before the auxiliary verbs.

Already indicates something happened sooner than expected or before something else.

Already can be used in the same positions as still, and can also be placed at the end of a sentence for a more informal, emphatic tone.

In American English, already is often used with the past simple tense, while in British English it is used with the present perfect tense.

Just is used for something that happened immediately before now or before something else.

Just can be used in the same positions as still and already, before the main verb, between the auxiliary and main verb, or after 'be'.

Yet is used in negatives and questions to indicate something is expected to happen but hasn't yet.

Yet is placed at the end of a clause or sentence to emphasize expectation.

Yet can also be used in positive sentences with the structure 'have yet to/has yet to + infinitive' in formal contexts.

A scenario is presented to illustrate the differences between the four words: 'They're not here yet' (expectation), 'I already made the potatoes' (finished before now), 'The fish is still baking' (ongoing action), 'I just remembered I didn't buy drinks' (very recent).

Understanding the nuances and proper usage of these common words can greatly enhance English learners' communication skills.

The lesson provides clear explanations, examples and comparisons to help learners master the use of still, already, just and yet.

The presenter's engaging teaching style and use of relatable examples make the lesson informative and enjoyable.

The lesson is well-structured, starting with an overview, followed by detailed discussions of each word, and concluding with a summary scenario.

Transcripts

Hi guys! I'm Arnel, and today we're  going to look at four common words  

that english students can often confuse.

If we want to understand how to use these  words, we need to look at four things.  

1. the definition 2. when we use these words - in  positive statements, negatives, questions  

3. the position in a sentence and 4. the difference  between American English and British English

At the end of this lesson, I'm going to  use all four of these in one situation  

so you can really see the difference.

And remember, these words can have  many different definitions and uses,  

but today we're specifically focusing on them  in terms of TIME. So let's begin with - still.

Still - we use still to emphasize that an  action is continuing, it's ongoing. For example:  

Now it's raining. You can see this  on my timeline - now it's raining.

It's still raining. You can really see I'm  emphasizing that something is continuing  

and we often use STILL because this  action, this continuation, is surprising.  

My brother still lives with my parents.

Of course this sentence is perfectly correct  if you remove 'still' - My brother lives with my  

parents. But still gives you that emphasis.  My brother still lives with my parents.  

He's 38. I work from home because of Covid, but  I can still go into the office if I need to.

I am still sick. I've been sick  for two weeks. I am still sick.

Ookay you can see all these  examples are in the present.  

But you can also use still  in the past and in the future.

Past: I woke up at 8 am and it was  still dark out. It continued to be dark.

My parents divorced when I was seven,  but they still had a good relationship.  

Their good relationship continued.

Future: When you wake up, it will still  be dark out. It will continue to be dark.  

In two minutes, you will  still be watching this video.

Hopefully. Okay we need to look at the position  of still in detail. Why is a position so important?

Still is an adverb just like already yet  and just. You know in English adverbs can  

go in lots of different places. The good news is  learning about the position of still will make  

learning about the position of these other  words so much easier. So let's take a look.

Still. Still can go in the middle position, often  just called mid position. The middle position can  

be1. before the main verb 2. after the auxiliary  verb and before the main verb - like a sandwich.

3. after b

Okay let's look at this with examples from earlier:  My brother lives with my parents. I have my main  

verb, my only verb 'lives' and before that I add  still - My brother still lives with my parents.  

I can go into the office if I need to. I have my main verb 'go'  

and my auxiliary verb 'can'. Still in the middle -  like a sandwich. I can still go into the office  

if i need to. I'm sick. I have my 'be' form and still  goes after it. I'm still sick. Remember the 'be' forms?  

These are the be forms you need to look out for. These rules are the same for questions. Does your  

girlfriend still go to salsa classes? auxiliary/ main verb. Are you still here? After 'be'. So we have  

the three positions but things change a little bit  in the negative. I don't know how to use chopsticks.  

Peter hasn't chosen what he wants from the menu. We  can't visit our relatives. We know these sentences  

are negative because we have 'not' and of course I have contracted them because that's natural. Main  

verb/ auxiliary. Aha! Sandwich time! No sorry, in  the negative put still before the auxiliaries.  

I still don't know how to use chopsticks. Peter  still hasn't chosen what he wants from the menu.  

We still can't visit our relatives. Lots  of information here but we are going to  

look at these positions again in the lesson, and  learning them now will make later on much easier.

Already: you are surprised because something  happened before you expected it to happen /  

earlier than expected or before something else.

What? Your son is already five years old?  

Oh my goodness, time flies. I felt like I saw him  yesterday and he was this little little baby.  

But no, your son is already five years old. This is  sooner than I expected. I''m a little bit surprised.

It's only January and the snow is already melting.  Normally where I live the snow doesn't melt until  

March / April, but it's January - the snow is  already melting. Sooner than I expected.

Would you like a tea or coffee? No thank  you, I already had one. Before now. Okay, 

I have two examples in the present, one in the past.  Yes you can also use already in the future. Why not?  

When you arrive in San Francisco, Chloe and Alice  will already be there. You can meet them in the  

hotel. They'll be there before you. And look at  those positions. We've already talked about this.  

Before the main verb.

Are you hungry? Because here's a sandwich - between  the auxiliary and the main verb. And after  

'be'. With already the end position  is also perfectly correct.  

When we put already at the end of our sentence or  at the end of the clause, it's a little bit more  

informal. It's more casual and more emphatic  actually. What? Your son is five years old already?

It's only January and the snow is melting  already. Would you like a tea or coffee? No thank  

you. I had one already. And when you arrive in San  Francisco, Alice and Chloe will be there already.  

And with already, the position  and negatives and questions  

doesn't change which is great. Let's take  a moment to look at this example here.

Would you like a tea or coffee?  No thank you, I already had one.  

Past simple. You can also say I've, I have, I've  already had one. Present perfect. Today's lesson is  

not about the past simple or the present perfect,  but I need to tell you one difference between  

American English and British English. Generally  Americans tend to use the past simple with already  

just and yet. Speakers of British English tend  to use the present perfect. So this isn't a   

strict grammatical rule- it's a preference. So  you'll hear both and it's just good to know.

Just: we use just for something that happened  right before now or right before something else . 

Rachel has just called and she left  you a message. Rachel has just called / 

Rachel just called - both are fine. Here,  Rachel has just called / Rachel just called -   

this is probably one minute  ago. It's very recent, isn't it?

Did you get a chance to go to the  wildlife photography exhibition?  

I was just there. I went during my lunch break.  It was amazing. I was just there. This is probably  

20 minutes ago. Have you seen Vic anywhere? He  should be in his office, I was just talking to him.  

I was just talking to him five minutes ago. Okay  here we have 20 minutes ago, five minutes ago  

one minute ago, this is very recent but recent is  relative right? I could say: We just bought a house.  

And this could be two months ago, but that's  pretty recent in terms of buying a house.

You just saw a ghost and once  again we have that mid position.  

1. before the main verb 2. between the auxiliary  and the main verb 3.after 'be'. So let's compare  

still already and just before we move on to  yet. Hey do you feel like meeting up later? Cafe?

Sorry not today, I'm still working on my essay. I  thought you already finished it. No, to be honest , 

I just started. Still: I'm continuing to work on  my essay. Already: something is finished before now.  

Just: very recently. I started 10 minutes ago  

And yes we can put already at the  end - I thought you finished it already.

Yet: we are waiting for something to happen, we are  expecting something. We use yet in negatives and  

questions. Why? b=Because an action hasn't happened. We  are either waiting for the action or we are asking  

about the action. I'm hungry. I haven't eaten  breakfast yet. But I'm going to eat breakfast. 

I will eat breakfast soon. You can't go to the  supermarket now. It's not open yet. It's only 7 a.m.  

But it will open it will open soon.  We're expecting it to open of course.  

Has the meeting started yet? I'm expecting  a meeting so I'm asking if it started  

or not. I don't know why Zoe was complaining  about the new intern. She hadn't even met him yet.  

The good thing about yet is the position.  

It's at the end of your clause, at the end of  your sentence. That makes things pretty simple.  

Of course you can remove yet from all of these  and they're perfectly correct but once again  

yet gives you that little emphasis that you're  expecting something. Let's compare: I haven't seen  

that movie. I haven't seen that movie yet. The  first example is just general information - I  

haven't seen that movie. Have you seen that movie?  Is it any good? In the second example the speaker  

is going to watch the movie. They're expecting  to watch the movie but they just haven't done it ... 

yet. Have you signed Phil's birthday card? No I  haven't signed it. No I haven't signed it yet.  

The second example is a lot more natural because  in the second example the speaker is gonna sign  

it. They will sign it when when they have some free  time. The first example is a little bit unnatural  

and it's missing something. Have you signed Phil's birthday card? No I haven't signed it.  

Any other questions? Okay so we know now we  use yet in negatives and questions at that  

end position. But you probably or you might have  seen yet used in a positive sentence. For example, 

We can use this structure: have yet to/ has yet to  + infinitive. This also means you're expecting  

something. You're waiting for something. For  example: The stolen jewels have yet to be recovered.

The judges have yet to announce a winner. You  can see here we have yet. It's not at the end, 

and there's no negative there's no question. It's  a positive statement which is perfectly correct.  

So you can use yet in this type of structure and  there are other other variations but this isn't  

very common and it's quite formal. so I  really do suggest keep yet for those negatives  

and questions at the end of your sentence

Amazing! Let's look at all four of these words  

in one in one situation so you can really compare  the difference and see how how necessary they are.

My boss and his wife are coming over to my house  for dinner. They're not here yet, but they'll be  

here in about 30 minutes. And actually I'm  really nervous so the... I already made  

the potatoes and the salad. The fish is  still in the oven, the fish is still baking.

and I just remembered, I didn't buy any drinks.  I don't have any drinks. So here we can see yet  

in the negative.' I'm expecting my boss and his  wife to to be at my house soon. I'm expecting this.  

Already: something is done, it's finished before  now. I already made the potatoes, I already made  

the salad. Still: ongoing. The fish is still in the  oven. It's still baking. Just: I just remembered -  

one moment ago. That's them. Subscribe to my channel.

Bye!