Already and yet

Already and yet are two very used adverbs which we must be clear about their difference and give them their correct use. Here, we will show you how to use them to perfection.

Already

We use already to refer to something that has happened or may have happened before the time of speaking. Already can sometimes suggest surprise on the part of the speaker, that something is unexpected, for example:

• • Is it nine o’clock already? – Is it ten o’clock already?

(in this case the speaker did not expect it to be so late).

It goes in the affirmative before the main verb. That is, between the have and the participle. If already is used with the present perfect tense it means “before now”. You should use it to emphasize that something happened before something else or earlier than expected.

• The plane’s left already! – The plane has already left!

  Already can be placed between the auxiliary and main verb or at the end of the clause.

• The plane has already arrived – El avión ya ha llegado.

Here are some examples:

• I have already finished my homework – Ya han terminado mis deberes
• I have already seen that video! – I have already seen this video.
• Angie has already arrived home. – Angie has already arrived home.
• I have already bought the tickets- Ya compré las entradas.
• The boys have already finished dinner and are ready for bed. – The children have finished dinner and are ready for bed.
• When Marta met Oscar she had already divorced her first husband. – When Marta met Oscar, she had already divorced her first husband.
• I already know how to do this exercise.

Yet

Now we talk about the use of yet. It can be used as an adverb, to talk about an additional idea or to emphasize a feeling or thought. It can also be used as a conjunction, similar to the way conjunctions such as “but” or “however” are used. With proper placement and punctuation, you can use yet with confidence when writing or speaking.

We use yet as an adverb to refer to a time that begins in the past and continues to the present. It is used mainly in negative statements or in questions in the present perfect tense. It is usually in the end position:

• Haven’t finished my dinner yet. – I haven’t finished my dinner yet.

We find yet in negative form when it indicates that an event is expected to occur in the future:

• Martin hasn’t phoned yet. – Martin has not yet called

We use the interrogative with yet when the speaker is waiting for something to happen:

• Has your passport arrived yet? – has your passport arrived yet?

Here are some examples:

• • How do you know the answer if you haven’t asked the question yet. -How can you know the answer if you haven’t asked the question yet?
  • We can still go to Berta’s birthday party, She hasn’t arrived yet. -We can still go to Berta’s birthday party, she hasn’t arrived yet.
  • Don’t put the pasta in the water yet, it’s not boiling. – Do not put the pasta in the water yet, it is not boiling.
  • They haven’t even finished the building yet.
  • I haven’t called the cab yet. – I have not called the cab yet.I haven’t considered your offer yet. – I have not yet considered your offer.
  • The store hasn’t closed yet. – The store has not yet closed.

We hope that from the explanation and examples you understand the correct usage of these two important English expressions. But don’t forget, the secret to understanding is practice.