These two words are confusing
to many Japanese students. They seem to have the same meaning in
Japanese (まだ). However, they are used
differently in English.
Still
is used to indicate a continuation of an action or situation. #4
above shows how it can be used. Similarly, #1, #3, #4, and #5
above should be corrected to:
I am
still
single.
It is
still
cold in May in Toronto.
She is
still
dating Peter.
Yet
is often used to indicated "up to now" and is used to imply the
negative of a verb or adjective. #2 above shows how it can
be used. Similarly, #6 should be corrected to:
"Have you decided what to
order?" "Not
yet."
(I haven't decided
yet.)
Compare these sentence pairs.
For each pair, the meaning is more or less the same, but you can see how
still
and yet
are being used:
I am
still
reading the book. I have
not
finished reading the book
yet.
I am
still
thinking.
I haven't
decided yet.
She is
still
single.
She is not
married yet.
The monster is
still
alive!
The monster is
not dead
yet!
Now try these questions:
1. She's still/yet
talking on the phone.
2. He has been working
on the project for quite a while, but hasn't quite finished
still/yet.
3. I apologized but he's
still/yet angry at me.
4. Do you have any more
food? I am still/yet hungry.
5. The baby is not old
enough to walk still/yet.
6. It's midnight!
Are you still/yet writing your report? Haven't you finished
it
of the following sentences are incorrect?