Monday, August 28, 2017

adverbs - differentiating between still and yet


UPDATED:


Do you still live in the same place or have you moved? (How could we understand whether the time has elapsed?)


Are the following correct?


Do you live in the same place yet or have you moved?


Don't you live in the same place yet or have you moved?



Answer



I'd suggest looking at this link on yet vs still.


To sum up, still is used to imply a continuing action in affirmative sentences. So, basically you'd use still as follows: "I'm still in the same house."



If you want to use still in a sentence with not, it's important to place still in the correct position before or after not. To borrow an example from the link:


"I do not still have the picture"

I don't have the picture anymore, though I had it earlier. Note the not is before still.


"I still do not have the picture"

I am waiting for the picture to arrive. The not is after still.


For yet, it's not usually used in affirmative sentences and is mainly used with actions that aren't yet over or finished. Like -


"I haven't yet finished moving into my new place" - I'm in the process, but it's not done.


It's common to find yet with not, as shown above (have not).



It's rare to find yet in an affirmative sentence. It can be used in questions as follows -


"Has he found out about the place yet?"

to ask if he has found out about the new house/place in the time that has elapsed. You wouldn't use still here.


Think of still as inertia of action and yet as inertia of inaction.


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