ADVERBS OF DURATION

1. We use adverbials of duration to say that an event or situation is continuing, stopping, or is not happening at the moment.

She still lives in London.

I couldn't stand it any more.

It isn't dark yet.

2. We use ‘already’ to say that something has happened sooner than it was expected to happen. We put ‘already’ in front of the main verb.

He had already bought the cups and saucers.

I've already seen them.

The guests were already conning in.

We put ‘already’ after ‘be’ as a main verb.

Julie was already in bed.

We can also use ‘already’ to emphasize that something is the case, for example when someone else does not know or is not sure.

I am already aware of that problem.

We do not normally use ‘already’ in negative statements, but we can use it in negative ‘if’-clauses.

Show it to him if he hasn't already seen it.

We can put ‘already’ at the beginning or end of a clause for emphasis.

Already he was calculating the profit he could make.

I've done it already.

3. We use ‘still’ to say that a situation continues to exist up to a particular time in the past, present, or future. You put ‘still’ in front of the main verb.

We were still waiting for the election results.

My family still live in India.

You will still get tickets, if you hurry.

You put ‘still’ after ‘be’ as a main verb.

Martin's mother died, but his father is still alive.

We can use ‘still’ after the subject and before the verb group in negative sentences to express surprise or impatience.

You still haven't given us the keys.

He still didn't say a word.

It was after midnight, and he still wouldn't leave.

Remember that we can use ‘still’ at the beginning of a clause with a similar meaning to ‘after all’ or ‘nevertheless’.

Still, he is my brother, so I'll have to help him.

Still, it's not too bad. We didn't lose all the money.

4. We use ‘yet’ at the end of negative sentences and questions to say that something has not happened or had not happened up to a particular time, but is or was expected to happen later.

We haven't got the tickets yet.

Have you joined the swimming club yet?

They hadn't seen the baby yet.

Remember that ‘yet’ can also be used at the beginning of a clause with a similar meaning to ‘but’.

I don't miss her, yet I do often wonder where she went.

They know they won't win. Yet they keep on trying.

5. We use ‘any longer’ and ‘any more’ at the end of negative clauses to say that a past situation has ended and does not exist now or will not exist in the future.

I wanted the job, but I couldn't wait any longer.

He's not going to play any more.

In formal English, we can use an affirmative clause with ‘no longer’ and ‘no more’. We can put them at the end of the clause, or in front of the main verb.