Main points

* `Already’ is used to say that something has happened earlier than expected.

* `Still’ is used to say that something continues to happen until a particular time.

* `Yet’ is used to say that something has not happened before a particular time.

* `Any longer’, `any more’, `no longer’, and `no more’ are used to say that something has stopped happening.

1 You use adverbials of duration to say that an event or situation is continuing, stopping, or is not happening at the moment.
She still lives in London.
I couldn’t stand it any more.
It isn’t dark yet.

2 You use `already’ to say that something has happened sooner than it was expected to happen. You put `already’ in front of the main verb.
He had already bought the cups and saucers.
I’ve already seen them.
The guests were already coming in.

You put `already’ after `be’ as a main verb.
Julie was already in bed.

You can also use `already’ to emphasize that something is the case, for example when someone else does not know or is not sure.
I am already aware of that problem.

You do not normally use `already’ in negative statements, but you can use it in negative `if’-clauses.
Show it to him if he hasn’t already seen it.

You can put `already’ at the beginning or end of a clause for emphasis.
Already he was calculating the profit he could make.
I’ve done it already.

3 You use `still’ to say that a situation continues to exist up to a particular time in the past, present, or future. You put `still’ in front of the main verb.
We were still waiting for the election results.
My family still live in India.
You will still get tickets, if you hurry.

You put `still’ after `be’ as a main verb.
Martin’s mother died, but his father is still alive.

You can use `still’ after the subject and before the verb group in negative sentences to express surprise or impatience.
You still haven’t given us the keys.
He still didn’t say a word.
It was after midnight, and he still wouldn’t leave.

Remember that you can use `still’ at the beginning of a clause with a similar meaning to `after all’ or `nevertheless’.
Still, he is my brother, so I’ll have to help him.
Still, it’s not too bad. We didn’t lose all the money.

4 You use `yet’ at the end of negative sentences and questions to say that something has not happened or had not happened up to a particular time, but is or was expected to happen later.
We haven’t got the tickets yet.
Have you joined the swimming club yet?
They hadn’t seen the baby yet.

Remember that `yet’ can also be used at the beginning of a clause with a similar meaning to `but’.
I don’t miss her, yet I do often wonder where she went.
They know they won’t win. Yet they keep on trying.

5 You use `any longer’ and `any more’ at the end of negative clauses to say that a past situation has ended and does not exist now or will not exist in the future.
I wanted the job, but I couldn’t wait any longer.
He’s not going to play any more.

In formal English, you can use an affirmative clause with `no longer’ and `no more’. You can put them at the end of the clause, or in front of the main verb.
He could stand the pain no more.
He no longer wanted to buy it.