What is the difference between “already” and “yet”? Does “already” indicate that something has happened before now (e.g., “He has already left”) while “yet” refers to an action expected to happen, but has not occurred up to the present (e.g., “He hasn’t left yet”)? The difference lies in timing and expectation.
“Already” and “yet” are both adverbs used to indicate the timing of actions in relation to the present moment.
“Already” is used to show that something has happened before a specified time or is earlier than expected. For example: “He has already left,” indicates that the action of leaving occurred in the past, possibly before the present moment or sooner than anticipated.
“Yet,” on the other hand, is used in negative statements and questions to show that something has not happened up to the present or at a particular point in time. For example: “He hasn’t left yet,” indicates that the action of leaving has not occurred by the present moment, suggesting an expectation that it will happen in the future.
In summary, “already” is used to indicate that something has happened before a specific time, while “yet” is used to show that something has not happened up to the present moment but is expected to happen in the future.