Master the Nuances: How to Use Still and Yet in Negative Sentences

Are you often confused about whether to use “still” or “yet” in a negative sentence? You’re not alone. Many English learners find these two small words surprisingly tricky. While both can indicate that something expected hasn’t happened, “still” adds a layer of surprise, emphasis, or impatience to that ongoing situation. This guide will clarify the distinction, provide clear rules, and offer plentiful examples to ensure you use both words with confidence in writing and speech.

Introduction: Navigating a Common Grammar Challenge

Understanding how to use still and yet in negative sentences is a key milestone for any English learner. These adverbs of time both relate to the non-completion of an action, but their connotations and typical placements within a sentence differ significantly. Confusion often arises because languages like French, Spanish, or German might use a single word (like encore or noch) to cover the meanings of both “still” and “yet”. This guide will dissect their unique roles, providing you with a solid grammatical foundation. By the end, you’ll be able to precisely express whether an ongoing lack of action is simply a fact or a source of unexpected frustration.

The Core Difference Between “Still” and “Yet”

At their heart, “still” and “yet” answer different questions about an unfinished action.

• Yet asks, “Has it happened?” and answers, “No, not up to now.” It is neutral, simply stating that an expected event has not occurred by the present moment.
• Still asks, “Is it STOPPED?” and answers, “No, it CONTINUES not to happen.” It is emphatic, often conveying surprise, concern, or frustration that a situation persists.

The table below summarizes their primary distinctions:

Feature	Yet	Still
Core Meaning	Something expected has not happened up to now.	A (negative) situation continues from the past into the present.
Typical Sentence Type	Negative statements and questions.	Affirmative, negative, and questions (to check continuation).
Common Position	End of a clause or sentence.	Mid-position, usually before the main verb.
Connotation	Neutral observation.	Emphasis, surprise, or impatience.
Common Tense	Often used with the present perfect.	Used with various tenses to show continuation.

Rules for Using “Yet” in Negative Sentences

“Yet” implies anticipation. It suggests that while something hasn’t occurred, there is an expectation that it will happen soon.

• Position: “Yet” almost always comes at the end of the clause in negative sentences, especially in informal English. A more formal placement is immediately after “not” (e.g., “have not yet received”).
• Sentence Type: Primarily used in negative statements and questions.
• Tense: Commonly paired with the present perfect tense (have/has not + past participle).
• Example: “She hasn’t finished her report yet.” (Neutral statement of fact).

Rules for Using “Still” in Negative Sentences

“Still” in a negative context emphasizes the surprising or unsatisfactory continuation of a situation. It often carries an emotional weight.

• Position: “Still” occupies the mid-position in a sentence. In negative sentences, it is placed before the auxiliary verb (like haven’t/hasn’t/don’t).
• Sentence Type: Can be used in negative statements for emphasis. Also common in questions to confirm if an ongoing situation remains unchanged (e.g., “Are you still not ready?”).
• A Key Warning: Word order is critical. “I still do not have it” means I continue to lack it. “I do not still have it” means I no longer have it (I had it before but lost it).
• Example: “She still hasn’t finished her report.” (Implying: “And it’s surprising or frustrating that she continues to work on it after all this time”).

100 Examples of “Still” and “Yet” in Negative Sentences

Examples with “Yet” (Neutral, End Position)

1. I haven’t eaten lunch yet.
2. The movie hasn’t started yet.
3. They haven’t replied to my email yet.
4. He hasn’t decided on a major yet.
5. We haven’t received the payment yet.
6. The results aren’t out yet.
7. She hasn’t gotten used to the cold weather yet.
8. The package hasn’t arrived yet.
9. I can’t access the system yet.
10. They haven’t announced the winner yet.
11. The contract isn’t signed yet.
12. He hasn’t apologized yet.
13. We haven’t seen the final design yet.
14. The issue isn’t resolved yet.
15. She hasn’t met the new manager yet.
16. The flowers haven’t bloomed yet.
17. I haven’t read that book yet.
18. The software isn’t installed yet.
19. They haven’t fixed the road yet.
20. He isn’t home from work yet.
21. We haven’t chosen a venue yet.
22. The decision hasn’t been made yet.
23. She hasn’t confirmed her attendance yet.
24. The data isn’t complete yet.
25. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.
26. The store isn’t open yet.
27. They haven’t returned the documents yet.
28. He hasn’t recovered from his illness yet.
29. We haven’t finalized the budget yet.
30. The team hasn’t scored yet.
31. She hasn’t updated her profile yet.
32. The sun hasn’t set yet.
33. I haven’t made up my mind yet.
34. The problem hasn’t gone away yet.
35. They haven’t issued a statement yet.
36. He isn’t old enough to drive yet.
37. We haven’t reached an agreement yet.
38. The application isn’t processed yet.
39. She hasn’t learned from her mistake yet.
40. The project isn’t off the ground yet.
41. I haven’t gotten over the shock yet.
42. The law hasn’t taken effect yet.
43. They haven’t discovered a cure yet.
44. He hasn’t realized the truth yet.
45. We haven’t heard the full story yet.
46. The trend hasn’t caught on yet.
47. She hasn’t unpacked her bags yet.
48. The paint isn’t dry yet.
49. I haven’t thanked her yet.
50. The committee hasn’t convened yet.

Examples with “Still” (Emphatic, Mid Position)

51. I still haven’t eaten lunch.
52. The movie still hasn’t started.
53. They still haven’t replied to my email.
54. He still hasn’t decided on a major.
55. We still haven’t received the payment.
56. The results still aren’t out.
57. She still hasn’t gotten used to the cold weather.
58. The package still hasn’t arrived.
59. I still can’t access the system.
60. They still haven’t announced the winner.
61. The contract still isn’t signed.
62. He still hasn’t apologized.
63. We still haven’t seen the final design.
64. The issue still isn’t resolved.
65. She still hasn’t met the new manager.
66. The flowers still haven’t bloomed.
67. I still haven’t read that book.
68. The software still isn’t installed.
69. They still haven’t fixed the road.
70. He still isn’t home from work.
71. We still haven’t chosen a venue.
72. The decision still hasn’t been made.
73. She still hasn’t confirmed her attendance.
74. The data still isn’t complete.
75. I still haven’t had a chance to try it.
76. The store still isn’t open.
77. They still haven’t returned the documents.
78. He still hasn’t recovered from his illness.
79. We still haven’t finalized the budget.
80. The team still hasn’t scored.
81. She still hasn’t updated her profile.
82. The sun still hasn’t set.
83. I still haven’t made up my mind.
84. The problem still hasn’t gone away.
85. They still haven’t issued a statement.
86. He still isn’t old enough to drive.
87. We still haven’t reached an agreement.
88. The application still isn’t processed.
89. She still hasn’t learned from her mistake.
90. The project still isn’t off the ground.
91. I still haven’t gotten over the shock.
92. The law still hasn’t taken effect.
93. They still haven’t discovered a cure.
94. He still hasn’t realized the truth.
95. We still haven’t heard the full story.
96. The trend still hasn’t caught on.
97. She still hasn’t unpacked her bags.
98. The paint still isn’t dry.
99. I still haven’t thanked her.
100. The committee still hasn’t convened.

Common Mistakes and Important Tips for Exams

1. Avoid the “Still Yet” Mashup: Do not say, “He hasn’t come still yet.” This is incorrect. The correct forms are “He hasn’t come yet” or “He still hasn’t come”.
2. Position is Paramount: Placing “still” at the end of a sentence is a frequent error. Remember: still before the verb, yet at the end.
3. “Yet” in Affirmative Sentences: As a rule of thumb, avoid using “yet” in standard affirmative statements. It is primarily for negatives and questions. An exception is the formal structure “have yet to,” as in “I have yet to decide,” which is a negative affirmative.
4. The “No Longer” Alternative: In negative contexts, especially when an action has stopped, “still” is often replaced by “no longer” or “not…any more.” For example, “He no longer lives here” is more natural than “He does not still live here”.

For Competitive Exams (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge):

• Spot the Error: Be prepared for questions that test the incorrect placement of “still” and “yet.”
• Tone and Emphasis: In reading comprehension or writing tasks, recognize that “still” in a negative sentence is used to create a tone of emphasis or concern.
• Formal Writing: Know that “have not yet” is a common formal construction. Using “still” can make writing more forceful and persuasive when highlighting an ongoing problem.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to Use Still and Yet in Negative Sentences

Q1: Can I use “still” and “yet” together in the same sentence?
A: Yes, but not as a combined unit like “still yet.” You can use “still” for emphasis in the mid-position and “yet” at the end for its standard meaning. For example: “She still hasn’t completed the registration yet.” This is grammatically correct, though sometimes one adverb is sufficient for clarity.

Q2: What is the difference between “I haven’t done it still” and “I still haven’t done it”?
A: “I haven’t done it still” is grammatically incorrect because it places “still” at the end, which is the position for “yet.” “I still haven’t done it” is the correct form. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of you not having completed the task, often with a sense of surprise or delay.

Q3: How are “already,” “still,” and “yet” different?
A: These three adverbs mark different stages of an action:

• Already: The action is complete, often sooner than expected. (“I’ve already finished.”)
• Still: The action is ongoing (or, in negatives, the lack of action is ongoing). (“I’m still working.” / “I still haven’t finished.”)
• Yet: The action is incomplete but expected. Used in negatives and questions. (“I haven’t finished yet.”)

Conclusion: Mastering the Subtle Art of Emphasis

Learning how to use still and yet in negative sentences effectively will add precision and nuance to your English. The choice between them isn’t just about grammar; it’s about conveying your attitude toward the situation. Use “yet” for a simple, factual update that something is pending. Choose “still” when you want to stress that a lack of action is continuing unexpectedly, thereby adding a layer of emotion or urgency to your statement. With the rules, tips, and extensive examples provided here, you are now equipped to use both words accurately and confidently in any context, from casual conversation to formal examinations.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes to illustrate general grammar rules. Specific usage can vary with context and dialect. For high-stakes exams or professional documents, always refer to the prescribed style guides or consult with a qualified language expert.

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