Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997

82 Still, yet Any more/any longer/no longer

Quick reference

• In affirmative sentences and questions we use still (= ’up to now’) to talk about an action or a situation which is continuing longer than we expected.

We put still in mid-position: after the verb be, before a main verb on its own, and between an auxiliary and the main verb.

Harry’s 91. Does he still Hue on his own?- Yes. And he still drives a car. He’s still very active.

• We use yet in negative sentences and in questions. We use it to talk about something that hasn’t happened, but that we expect to happen in the future. Yet usually goes at the end of a sentence or a clause.

Have you finished that letter yet? - No, I haven’t finished it yet, but I won’t be long.

• In negative sentences, if we want to show surprise, concern or anger that something hasn’t happened up to now, we use still for emphasis (rather than yet). We put still before an auxiliary verb.

Have you found your keys yet? - No, I’ve been looking for them for hours and I still haven’t found them. (not I haven’t still found them.)

• We use any more or any longer in negative sentences. We use them to say that a past situation has now finished. We usually put them at the end of a sentence or a clause. Any more is more common than any longer.

She doesn’t go skiing any more. They don’t Hue here any longer

• We can use no longer with an affirmative verb instead of any more/any longer with a negative verb. The meaning is the same, but no longer is more formal and less common. We put no longer in mid-position.

She no longer works at the school. She's no longer a teacher.

(She doesn’t work at the school any more. She isn’t a teacher any longer.)

1 Max Firth has got eight children. He takes them to school, but this morning they are not ready. Max is telling them to hurry up. Give their replies, using still or yet.

I John and Joe. Hurry up! Are you still eating?

Yes, we (not finish/our breakfast)

2 Laura! Are you ready?

No, I’m (in the bathroom)

3 Simon! Are you still upstairs?

Yes, I’m (get dressed)

4 John, where’s Helen?

She (in bed)

5 And where are the twins?

They (not finish/their homework)

6 Carla! It’s time for school!

I (not make/my sandwiches)

2 Lisa is giving a talk at a conference in Italy soon. She has made a list of the things she must do before she leaves. There are still some things she has not done. Write two sentences each time, a) using yet, b) using still. (What has she not done yet? What has she still got to do?)

Example: She hasn't booked her plane ticket yet. She's still got to book her plane ticket.

1 She ...

2 She ...

3 She ...

4 She ...

3 Gerry Hardman is angry and worried. He has got money problems. He has not got a job. He has got a serious eye infection. He feels depressed. Complete what he says, using still.

1 My friend Simon owes me S20. He (not pay me back) ...

2 I sent him a letter two weeks ago. He (not reply) ...

3 I applied for a job three weeks ago.

I'm (wait for an interview) ...

4 I had an operation on my eyes a month ago.

I (not see very well) ...

5 I’m taking anti-depressant tablets, but I’m (not feel well) ...

4 On January 1st many people in Britain make ’New Year resolutions’. They decide to change things in their lives. The Wills family have made their resolutions. Complete the sentences, using still, yet, any more, any longer, no longer.

1 (Norman Wills) I ... spend too much time away from the family. I’m not going to work on Saturdays ...

2 (Sarah Wills) I ... intend to do all the cooking. I’m not going to make all the meals at the weekend ...

3 (Jenny) My brother Oliver ... makes me angry. He hasn’t apologised for breaking my ...

CD player ... But I’ve decided. I’m not going to get angry with him ...

4 (Oliver) I haven’t made any resolutions ... I ... haven’t decided what I'm going to change. Last year I said I wouldn’t smoke ..., but I ... smoke.

Perhaps this year I’II try to be nice to my sister, but I haven't told her ...

5 a) Write five sentences, using yet, about five things that are important to you and that you haven't done yet.

b) Write five sentences, using still, about five things that haven’t happened yet and that surprise or worry you, or make you angry.

c) Make some New Year resolutions. Write five sentences about what you are not going to do any more.

Check your answers with a teacher.