English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 111: Still, yet and already - Any more / any longer / no longer

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).

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.

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)

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.

111.1 Compare what Paul said a few years ago with what he says now. Some things are the same as before and some things have changed. Write sentences with still and any more.

Paul a few year ago

I travel a lot.
I work in a shop.
I write poems.
I want to be a teacher.
I'm interested in politics.
I'm single.
I go fishing a lot.

Paul now

I travel a lot.
I work in a hospital.
I gave up writing poems.
I want to be a teacher.
I'm not interested in politics.
I'm single.
I haven't been fishing for years.

  1. (travel) .
  2. (shop) .
  3. (poems) He __________ .
  4. (teacher) __________ .
  5. (politics) __________ .
  6. (single) __________ .
  7. (fishing) __________ .
  8. (beard) __________ .

Now write sentences about Paul using no longer.

  1. .
  2. __________ .
  3. __________ .
  4. __________ .

111.2 For each sentence (with still) write a sentence with a similar meaning using not ... yet + one of the following verbs:

  • decide
  • find
  • finish
  • go
  • stop
  • take off
  • wake up
  1. It's still raining.
    .
  2. Gary is still here.
    He __________ .
  3. They're still repairing the road.
    They __________ .
  4. The children are still asleep.
    __________ .
  5. Is Ann still looking for a place to live?
    __________ ?
  6. I'm still wondering what to do.
    __________ .
  7. The plane is still waiting on the runway.
    __________ .

111.3 Put in still, yet, already or any more in the underlined sentence (or part of the sentence). Study the examples carefully.

  1. Mike lost his job a year ago and he is unemployed.
  2. Shall I tell Joe what happened or does he know?
    ?
  3. I'm hungry. Is dinner ready?
    ?
  4. I was hungry earlier, but I'm not hungry.
  5. Can we wait a few minutes? I don't want to go out.
    __________ .
  6. Amy used to work at the airport, but she doesn't work there.
    __________ .
  7. I used to live in Amsterdam. I have a lot of friends there.
    __________
  8. 'Shall I introduce you to Joe?' 'There's no need. We've met.'
    __________
  9. Do you live in the same place or have you moved?
    __________
  10. Would you like to eat with us or have you eaten?
    __________
  11. 'Where's John?'  'He's not here. He'll be here soon.'
    __________
  12. Tim said he'd be here at 8.30. It's 9 o'clock now and he isn't here.
    __________
  13. Do you want to join the dub or are you a member?
    __________ ?
  14. It happened a long time ago, but I can remember it very dearly.
    __________ .
  15. I've put on weight. These trousers don't fit me.
    __________ .
  16. 'Have you finished with the paper?' 'No, I'm reading it.'
    __________ .

Answer Key
Favorite Books
English Grammar Tests

PART A: 14 Elementary tests, 14 Pre-Intermediate tests, 8 Intermediate tests. Each test is specified on different grammar topics. PART B: 14 tests including Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate and Upper intermediate level grammar tests. Every test is focused on a different grammar topic. (2452 questions) PART C: 16 Multi-level grammar tests. Each test is specified on a different grammar topic. (1418 questions) PART D: 20 perfect multi-level grammar tests for assessment. (2000 questions) PART E: 6 Elementary, 5 Intermediate, 3 Advanced grammar tests. The formats of the tests are similar and the level gradually increases. (1400 questions)

Read more
Table of Contents