After the Bloggers unite moment and the awareness campaign on Aids let’s come down to real business. Yes, real business that is continuing the series of Grammar. In this series let’s confine our discussions to some small but significant Adverbs such as Still, Yet, Any More, Any Longer and No Longer. Don’t you use these small words in your day to day chatting or writing? Let’s discuss some basic grammatical rules regarding the uses of these Adverbs. No doubt you use these words correctly but a look into the rules is not that bad. What do you say?
Still is used to say that a present situation is continuing. In affirmative sentences and in interrogation it goes in Position two. (Please refer to my earlier post “Adverbs Disciplined” for different positions.)
• Kelvin hasn’t come home; he must still be in the Library.
• It is 9 o’clock and Satish is still in the Gymnasium.
• When I went to bed, Ribken was still working with his online project.
• Are you still working in the Microsoft?
• Do you still grow spinach in your field?
We use Yet when we ask if something has happened or when we say something hasn’t happened. It is used mainly in questions and negative sentences and usually goes in Position three.
• It is 9 o’clock and Satish has not returned yet.
• Has the tram service stalled? The tram has not arrived yet.
• You said Tom was ill. Has he recuperated yet?
• I saw Kerrene at the railway station. Hasn’t she returned yet?
• The roof the school building is leaking badly. The authority has not repaired yet.
• I am hungry. Is lunch ready yet?
Still can also be used in Negative Sentences in a different position, immediately after the subject. When it is used in this way it expresses surprise, anger or worry. That something should have happened now but it has not happened.
• December is on but the cold wave to still to come.
• The baby is five years old. It has still not left sucking its fingers.
Not… any more, Not… any longer, No longer
These expressions mean that an activity or work has stopped sometime before. Any more and Any Longer go in position three.
• Ribken doesn’t stay in New York any more/ any longer. He left three months ago.
• I can’t bear with this rubbish any longer/ any more. I must report to his boss.
• They are not friends any more/ any longer.
No longer goes in position two.
• He is no longer a school boy.
• Tom no longer supports that political party.
Hope you enjoyed the continuing lessons on Adverbs. Next time there will be more such lessons. Do follow me by whatever means you know and think better. For different positions of Adverbs follow the link given.
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