What is the Difference Between Yet and Still?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The words "yet" and "still" are often used in different contexts and have distinct meanings:
- Yet: This word is mainly used to refer to something that a person is waiting for and expecting, or an event/action that hasn't happened but is presumed to happen. It is used as an adverb and as a conjunction. For example, "You haven't paid the EMI yet".
- Still: This word refers to an event/action that has begun in the past time and is continuing in the present time. It is used as a noun, adverb, adjective, and verb. For example, "Gagan is still using the bike gifted by his dad".
While both words can be used in negative statements to talk about something that wasn't true in the past and continues not to be true in the present, their positions in the sentence are different. "Yet" is usually placed at the end of the sentence, and "still" is placed before the verb. Additionally, "still" is used in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences, whereas "yet" is used in negative and interrogative sentences.
Comparative Table: Yet vs Still
The words "yet" and "still" are used to talk about events or actions that have or haven't happened over time, but they have distinct meanings and uses. Here is a table summarizing the differences between "yet" and "still":
| Feature | Yet | Still |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Refers to a past event or action that hasn't happened but is expected to. Refers to a past event or action that began in the past and is continuing in the present. | |
| Usage | Mainly used with negative sentences and questions. Commonly used in affirmative statements and questions. | |
| Position in Sentence | Placed at the end of the sentence or before the verb. | |
| Conjunction | Yes (when used as "but still"). No | |
| Adverb | Yes. Yes. |
Examples:
- Yet: "She hasn't arrived yet." (The event hasn't happened, but it is expected to.)
- Still: "She still hasn't arrived." (The event began in the past but continues into the present.)
Note that "yet" and "still" can be used together in a sentence, but their roles are different. For example, "They still haven't made their beds yet!" In this sentence, "yet" functions as a conjunction (not an adverb) and has the same meaning as "but still".