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1 Her body was already starting to decay.
2 The American Embassy has already complained.
3 His son is a giant of 6 feet already.
4 Insurance companies are already overburdened with similar claims.
5 He’d already started construction on a hunting lodge.
6 The empty desk suggested she had already gone home.
7 John is already a writer of some notoriety.
8 She’d already gone when we got there.
9 We got there early but Mike had already left.
10 She seems fairly settled in her new job already.
11 The sun was already up when they set off.
12 The project is already well underway .
13 The prison service is already under considerable strain.
14 I’ve heard enough about it already.
15 ‘He’s already left,(www.Sentencedict.com)’ she informed us.
16 When he returned, she and Simon had already gone.
17 Some companies have already voluntarily disclosed similar information .
18 I’ve already looked there-it must be somewhere else.
19 My carefully laid plans had already gone awry.
20 It has become dark outside already.
21 according to my watch, it is already 2 o’clock.
22 ‘Lunch?’ ‘No thanks, I’ve already eaten.’
23 A crane was already unloading crates and pallets.
24 We have already advised you by cable.
25 The text had already been marked up with corrections.
26 Have you had your dinner already?
27 The wintry sun was already low in the sky.
28 Attempts to resurrect the ceasefire have already failed once.
29 I’ve spent all my money already.
30 Don’t step on him; he’s already acknowledged his faults.
More similar words: already in, get ready, steady, read, reader, thread, readily, spread out, widespread, lead, head, plead, head up, leader, head for, head on, deadly, lead to, ahead of, forehead, go ahead, get ahead, leading, headline, lead up to, deadline, steadily, area, instead of, head office.
Still, yet and already are adverbs of time.
Let’s look at the different meanings and uses of each adverb.
STILL
Still can refer to a situation that continues because it hasn’t finished or stopped.
Sometimes this situation has continued longer than expected or the situation can be surprising.
Still can refer to something that is ongoing.
Example sentences using STILL:
- It is still
(It continues right now. It hasn’t stopped) - I still live in London.
(Maybe you expected me to be living somewhere else now) - They have been married for 30 years and are still in love.
(Their love continues until now) - I can’t go right now because I am still very busy at work.
(I haven’t finished work. I am here longer than expected.) - Will you still love me when I’m old?
(Will you continue to love me?)
Still can refer to an action that was not expected because of something else.
It happened despite what has just been said.
Example sentences using STILL:
- He was sick but he still went to work.
(It was not expected because he could make other people sick at work) - I studied a lot though I still didn’t pass the test.
(I didn’t expect to fail it)
Position of STILL in a sentence
Still is used before a verb or adjective
Be + still + adjective
- The baby is still asleep.
- I’m still tired.
Still + main verb
- I still want to go.
- Does he still live with his parents?
Auxiliary + still + main verb
If the verb has two parts, still goes in the middle between the auxiliary and the verb.
- We are still trying to finish the assignment.
- Are you still waiting for him?
BUT if the sentence is negative, still goes before the negative auxiliary verb.
- He still hasn’t quit his job despite complaining about it every day.
- My phone still isn’t working after I dropped it.
YET
Yet is used in questions and negative sentences.
Yet = now, up to the time of speaking
When YET is used in a question, it is to ask if something (expected) has happened.
Example questions using YET:
- Have the test results arrived yet?
(I expect that they have arrived, I am asking to confirm.) - We have to go. Are you ready yet?
(I expect that you are ready.) - Have you had lunch yet?
(Have you had lunch up to now?)
Yet can refer to an action that is expected (but has not happened). Notice how in this case YET is used at the end of negative sentences.
Example sentences using YET:
- I haven’t done my homework yet.
- It’s almost midday and Steve hasn’t woken up yet.
- My boss hasn’t paid me yet.
Position of YET in a sentence
Verb + (object) + yet
- She hasn’t finished yet. (verb + yet)
- She hasn’t finished her meal yet. (verb + object + yet)
- Have you been to Spain yet?
Adjective + yet
- Fortunately, they aren’t bored yet.
- Is your friend ready yet?
You can see that YET mostly comes at the end of sentence or question. But there is an exception:
YET is sometimes used in affirmative sentences in formal English though it is not common to hear it. In this case, it is not placed at the end of the sentence but after the verb to be.
We have included this use in case you come across it.
- We are yet to find a solution.
ALREADY
Already is used in affirmative sentences, mostly in a perfect tense* or present simple tense.
Already can refer to an action that has happened (sooner than expected).
Already can be used to say that something was completed before something else.
* You may hear/read already used in the Past Simple tense by American English speakers. (More about this difference later)
Example sentences using ALREADY:
- I have just finished lunch but I’m already hungry again. (I didn’t expect to be hungry so soon)
- I think Simon already knows about the surprise party.
- We’ve already seen that movie. Let’s watch another one.
- There are already fifty people lined up outside the door.
Position of ALREADY in a sentence
Already is used before a verb or adjective.
Be + already
- After only 15 minutes, he is already frustrated.
- We are already at the restaurant.
In spoken English, already can be at the end of a sentence for greater emphasis (or to show surprise)
- Has he finished? (No surprise)
- Has he finished already? (I’m surprised)
Now, following word order for YET depends on whether American English or British English is used.
already + main verb
In American English, the word order is already + main verb. This main verb is in the Past simple tense.
- I already ate.
- He already finished the task.
auxiliary verb + already + verb
In British English, the word order is auxiliary verb + already + verb. This verb is a past participle in a Perfect tense.
- I have already eaten.
- He has already finished the task.
Let’s look at this difference a little more…
American English vs. British English
While Yet and Already have the same meaning in American English and British English, you should know that they can be used with different tenses.
In American English, the Past Simple tense is preferred.
In British English, the Present Perfect tense is preferred.
- Did the letter arrive yet? (American English)
- Has the letter arrived yet? (British English)
- Did you already eat your sandwich? (American English)
- Have you already eaten your sandwich? (British English)
Still – Yet – Already
Compare these adverbs in three similar sentences:
- The baby is still asleep.
- The baby is already asleep. (I expected the baby to be awake, the baby fell asleep sooner than I expected)
- The baby isn’t asleep yet. (The baby continues to be awake right now)
Still = continues longer than expected.
Already = sooner than expected.
Yet = it is expected but has not happened.
Summary Chart
“already” is an adverb of time.
It has 2 meanings. Let’s look at each meaning in more detail.
We use “already” to indicate that something has happened before the moment of speaking.
Examples:
Teacher: Do you need any help with the exercises?
Student: No thanks. I have already finished.
Jane: Tell the children to tidy their rooms.
Mark: They have already done it.
The window was already broken when we arrived.
Meaning 2 of “already”
We use “already” to express surprise that something has happened earlier than expected.
Examples:
Hurry up! It’s already 4 o’clock.
They got married last year and they are already divorced.
Are you already going to bed ? It’s only 10 o’clock.
Position of “already” in a sentence
The position of the adverb “already” in a sentence depends on the type of verb.
If the sentence has a main verb:
Position: Before the main verb.
Example: I already know that I have failed the exam.
If the sentence has an auxiliary / modal verb:
Position: After the modal verb or first auxiliary verb and before the main verb.
Example: Mark was already cooking dinner when Jane arrived home.
If the sentence has the verb “be” as a main verb:
Position: After the verb “be“
Example:
Mark: What time is it?
Jane: It is already 3 o’clock.
“already” in end position
We can place “already” at the end of a sentence for more emphasis or to show more surprise.
This is more common in questions and in informal speech.
We raise our voice a bit more than usual at the end of the question on the word “already” in order to express the feeling of surprise.
Examples:
Have they already sold their house? (surprised)
Have they sold their house already? (very surprised)
Is it already 7 o’clock? (surprised)
Is it 7 o’clock already? (very surprised)
Difference between “already” and “yet”
Compare the meaning of “already” with “yet” in the following sentences:
already
Are you already hungry?
or
Are you hungry already?
(Wow, I’m surprised. That was sooner than expected! You ate 2 hours ago!)
yet
Are you hungry yet?
(Are you hungry now? I’m expecting you to be hungry now or soon in the future.)
Difference between “already”, “yet” and “ever”
Compare the meaning of “already“, “yet” and “ever” in the following sentences:
already
Have you already been to Dubai?
or
Have you been to Dubai already?
(Wow, I’m surprised. That was sooner than expected! I thought your trip was planned for next year.)
yet
Have you been to Dubai yet?
(Have you been to Dubai in the past? I know you had plans to go. If not, I expect you to go in the future. Neutral tone without surprise.)
ever
Have you ever been to Dubai?
(Have you been to Dubai at any time in the past at least once? Do you know Dubai?)
More English lessons
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IELTS complete guide (WITH EXAMPLE QUESTIONS)
Adverbs of frequency
5 English expressions and phrasal verbs with MAKE
Meaning of TOO and ENOUGH
List of all the English lessons
Video lesson
ALREADY is usually found in mid-position (before normal verbs, after special verbs: modals and auxiliaries) but we can put it at the end for emphasis. YET always goes at the end
— I’m already tired
— She has arrived already!
— I’m not tired yet
— She hasn’t arrived yet
ALREADY is used in affirmative sentences and YET in negative sentences
— I have already finished
— I haven’t finished yet
ALREADY / YET in questions
We can use both in questions, but the meaning is a bit different. YET simply asks if something has happened or we still have to wait. ALREADY knows that something has happened, it simply expresses surprise because it happened sooner than expected. If we put ALREADY at the end, we are emphasizing our surprise.
— Has the doctor arrived yet? — No, not yet, but you can wait for him, he will arrive in a few minutes.
— Your father is here already?! I thought the train arrived at 10:30 and it’s only 9:45!
Compare:
— have you finished yet? (come on, I’m waiting!)
— have you already finished? (wow, you’re so fast!) -vs- have you finished already!? (oh wow, I can’t believe it!!)
for ADVANCED learners
We also use ALREADY when we suppose (but don’t know for sure) that something has happened. In this case there is no surprise, simply a guess, and it always goes in mid-position, never at the end.
— Have you met Doctor Sullivan yet? (I don’t know, I’m asking)
— Have you already met Doctor Sullivan? (probably I don’t know but I think you have)
Note for Spanish Speakers
EQUIVALENCIAS INGLESAS AL ESPAÑOL «YA»
En las afirmativas usamos el «already» en mid-position. En las negativas usamos «anymore» en posición final, y en interrogativas usamos el «yet» en posición final o el «already» en mid-position si mostramos sorpresa:
(+) I have already finished = Ya he terminado
(-) I don’t want it any more = Ya no lo quiero (también en preguntas: ¿ya no vives aquí? = You don’t live here any more?
(?) Has he arrived yet? = ¿Ya ha llegado? / Is he already here? = ¿Pero ya llegó?, ¡qué pronto!
Where should I put already in this sentence ?
I’ve been playing with it for a few hours already, but still no luck.
For me it seems ok to put before verb been or before hours.
asked May 30, 2017 at 14:49
Depending on what you wish to emphasize the position of «already» will vary.
Mid position
We usually put already in the normal mid position for adverbs (between the subject and the main verb, or after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb).
We don’t use already between a verb and a direct object.
- I’ve been playing already with it for a few hours, but still no luck. (Wrong)
End position
We can use already at the end of a sentence for greater emphasis or to show greater surprise. This is especially common in informal speaking.
Front position
Less often, we put already in front position (before the subject). We don’t often put already in front position in informal speaking.
Cambridge Dictionary
So with your sentence it can be either in the mid position or the end position:
- I’ve already been playing with it for a few hours, but still no luck.
- I’ve been playing with it for a few hours already, but still no luck.
SteveES
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answered May 30, 2017 at 15:01
SovereignSunSovereignSun
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3
It should be
I have already been playing with it for a few hours, but still no luck.
answered May 30, 2017 at 14:52
1
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