Not yet, still not and never

Today we are going to learn about the expressions, not yet, still not and never.

Let’s start off with not yet.

“Not yet” is used to express that we intend to do a certain thing, but we have not done it yet.

The expression “not yet” is mainly used in negatives and questions. For example:

Have you eaten?
Not yet.

Are you ready?
Not yet!

In questions and answers using not yet, have not and has not, the forms are generally contracted. We place “yet” at the end of the question or sentence.

For example:

Haven’t you seen him yet?
I haven’t seen him yet.

Hasn’t she arrived yet?
She hasn’t arrived yet.

Haven’t they cleaned the house yet?
They haven’t cleaned the house yet.

Hasn’t Jack painted his room yet?
Jack hasn’t painted his room yet.

We can also use the expression “still not” in negative sentences and questions. It is used in a more emphatic way than “not yet” to emphasize the fact that an action has “still not” been completed. Its suggests a strong feeling of surprise or impatience.

For example:

It’s so late and he still hasn’t come home!

I still haven’t seen the film.

Maria still hasn’t completed her project!

You still haven’t done your chores and I have been asking you the whole day.

“Still” is always placed before “have or has” in this form.

Finally, the expression “never” is used to talk about something that has not happened before. We cannot use double negatives in English and so we can never use “never” with the word “not.”

For example:

She has never been to Russia.

I have never watched that film.

You have never loved me.

Susan has never eaten sushi.

As you can see, we place the word “never” after “have or has” in this structure. The word never can also be used in the present and past simple.

For example:

I never go for a run, I don’t like it.

She never came to my house last night.

If you love learning English and would like to continue with ABA English, then sign up to our course and get free access to 144 video classes ranging from beginner to business levels of English.