Tuesday, 7 January 2014

STILL-YET-ALREADY



 Three rather tricky words, aren't they? Read the following carefully and then listen to this:

(1)  ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS…
Adverb
The idea is…
Type of sentence
Example
STILL
Continuity: algo ocurría y sigue ocurriendo (o no ocurría y sigue sin ocurrir)
+
She’s still married to that nasty man.
-
I still haven’t decided what to do.
¿?
Do you still love me?
ALREADY
“Too late”
+
He’s already had lunch.
-
------------------------------
¿?
Have you finished already?
YET
“Before now”. Something is/was expected to happen. Tiene poco significado.
+
--------------  (Advanced)
-
We haven’t done it yet.
¿?
Have you finished yet?

I still haven’t decided what to do is similar to I haven’t decided what to do yet.
Have you finished yet? and have you finished already? are both correct, but they don’t mean the same thing.
(2)  ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS… (comparison with Spanish)
YA
+
ALREADY

He’s already knocked.
-        (ya no)
NOT…ANY MORE

He doesn’t live there any more.
¿?
YET?
Neutro. No sé si sí o si no. Casi podría omitir YET.
Have you finished yet?
ALREADY?
Expresa sorpresa de que ya haya ocurrido
Have you already finished?
TODAVÍA
(continuidad)
+
STILL

She’s still married to that nasty man.
-
(todavía no)
STILL…NOT
Enfático: sigue durando el hecho de no ocurrir tal cosa
I still haven’t decided.
NOT…YET
Neutro
I haven’t decided yet.
¿?
STILL

Do you still love me?

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