Emphasizing the unexpected: continuing, stopping, or not happening

5.75 If you want to comment on the existence of the relationship between past, present, and future situation, you can use one of the following adjuncts:

already any longer any more

as yet no longer so far

still up till now up to now

yet

5.76 If you want to say that a situation exists up to the present time, you use 'still'. If you are using 'be' as a main verb or an auxiliary verb, you put 'still' after 'be' or the auxiliary. If you are using any simple verb except 'be' you put 'still' in front of the verb. 'Still' often suggests that the continuation of me situation is surprising or undesirable.

It's a marvel that I'm still alive to tell the tale.

Male prejudice still exists in certain quarters.

Years had passed and they were still paying them off.

In negative statements which use the 'n't' contraction, 'still' is placed in front of 'be' or the auxiliary.

We've been working on it for over two years now. And it still isn't finished.

We still don't know where we're going.

'still' for expected situations 5.77 You can also use 'still' in front of a 'to'-infinitive to say that something has not happened yet, although it is expected to, or you feel that it should.

The Government had still to agree on the provisions of the bill.

The problems were still to come.

There are many other questions still to be answered.

'Still' is not used in negative statements in this way; see paragraph 5.78 for a similar use of 'yet'.

'yet' for expected situations 5.78 If you want to indicate that something has not happened up to the present time, but is likely to happen in the future, you use 'yet' with a negative. 'Yet' usually comes at the end of a sentence.

We don't know the terms yet.

I haven't set any work yet. I suppose I shall some day.

They haven't heard yet.

If you want to sound more emphatic, you can put 'yet' before a simple verb or after the auxiliary and negative word.

No one yet knows exactly what it means.

Her style had not yet matured.

'Yet' can also be used in questions, where it is usually put at the end of the clause.

Was the Colonel waved his paper yet?

Has Mr. Harris not come yet?

5.79 You can also use 'yet' in affirmative statements to say that something that is expected has not happened up to the present time. In this case, 'yet' is followed by a 'to'-infinitive clause.

The true history of art in post-war America is yet to be written.

He had yet to attempt to put principles into practice.

5.80 'Yet' is also used in affirmative statements with superlatives to indicate that the statement apples up to the present, but may not apply in the future. 'Yet' normally comes at the end of the clause.

This is the best museum we've visited yet.

Mr. Fowler said that February had produced the best results yet.

This would be the biggest and best version yet.

likely change 5.81 If you want to say that a situation which has existed up to the present time may change in the future, you can use 'as yet', 'so far', 'up to now', or 'up till now'. They are normally placed either at the beginning or the end of the clause. They are also occasionally placed after an auxiliary verb.

As yet, there is little to suggest that the Prince is an exception in this.

Only Mother knows as yet.

So far, the terms of the treaty have been carried out according to schedule.

You've done well so far, Mrs Rutland.

Up till now, the most extraordinary remark I remember was made by you.

This troop had up to now succeeded in preventing the movement of any but light forces across the River Lippe.

You haven't once up till now come into real contact with our authorities.

Note that these expressions can be used in affirmative and negative statements.

5.82 If you want to say that a past situation does not exist in the present, you can use 'no longer', or a negative with 'any longer' or 'any more'.

She was no longer content with a handful of coins.

They didn't know any longer what was funny and what was entertaining.

They don't live together any more.

5.83 If you want to emphasize that a situation exists, rather than not yet having occurred, you use 'already'. It is usually put in front of any simple verb except 'be', or after 'be' as a main verb, or following an auxiliary verb.

The energy already exists in the ground.

Senegal already has a well established film industry.

He was just a year younger than Rudolph, but was already as tall and much stockier.

My watch says nine o'clock. And it's already too hot to sleep.

We have already advertised your post in the papers.

Britain is already exporting a little coal.

You can put 'already' at the beginning or the end of the clause for emphasis.

Already, European consumers pay over the odds for TV, sets, video recorders, and other goods.

I was happy for her; she looked better already.

'Already' is not often used with the simple past tense, except with the verbs 'be', 'have', and 'know'.

Note that 'already' cannot normally be used in negative statements, but can be used in negative 'if'-clauses, negative questions, and relative clauses.

Refer certain types of death to the coroner if this has not already been done.

What does it show us that we haven't already felt?

...all peers who did not already belong to the Privy Council.