TOEIC Decision Point

Already, Yet, and Still: Choose by the Timing Signal

Already, yet, and still are small words, but they often cause mistakes in TOEIC Part 5 because they all connect to time.

The trap is not whether you know the words. Most test-takers know them. The real trap is choosing the word that matches the timing of the sentence.

Core TOEIC rule: Use already when something is finished. Use yet when something is expected but not finished or not confirmed. Use still when something is continuing.

The 7-second choice

Already = finished

Use already when the action has happened by now, often earlier than expected.

Signal: already sent, already approved, already decided

Yet = expected, but not finished

Use yet in questions and negative sentences when the action is expected but not confirmed.

Signal: not yet, has not yet, have you ___ yet?

Still = continuing

Use still when the situation continues now, often longer than expected.

Signal: still working, still waiting, still reviewing

The signal to remember

TOEIC usually gives the timing clue near the blank. Do not translate first. Check whether the action is finished, expected but unfinished, or continuing.

The invoice has already been sent.

Why: the action is finished.

We have not received the revised contract yet.

Why: the action is expected, but it has not happened.

The technician is still checking the printer.

Why: the action is continuing now.

The supplier still has not confirmed the delivery date.

Why: the delay is continuing.

What TOEIC wants you to notice

These words look easy, so test-takers often answer too quickly. TOEIC is checking whether you can match the word to the timing pattern.

Finished action

The manager has already approved the request.

Expected but unfinished

The manager has not approved the request yet.

Continuing situation

The manager is still reviewing the request.

Watch the small words

Sentence position helps. Yet often appears at the end of questions and negative sentences. Still often appears before the action or before “not.” Already often appears with finished actions.

Have you checked the schedule yet?

Decision: the sentence asks whether an expected action has happened.

We still have not received a response.

Decision: the delay continues.

The report has already been submitted.

Decision: the action is complete.

Quick TOEIC check

Choose by checking the timing signal. This is a micro-diagnostic, not a score test.

1. The accounting department has ___ processed the payment.
2. We have not received the updated contract ___.
3. The technician is ___ repairing the printer.
4. Has the client approved the proposal ___?
5. The supplier ___ has not confirmed the delivery date.

The mistake fast readers make

Fast readers often see a familiar word and stop checking the timing. That is why this simple-looking trap costs points.

Weak choice

“I know this word, so I will choose it by feeling.”

Better choice

“Is the action finished, expected but unfinished, or continuing?”

TOEIC habit

Check timing first. Then check position. Then choose.

Why this mistake returns under pressure

Already, yet, and still feel easy during review. Under test pressure, that can make test-takers answer too fast. The safer move is to pause for one timing check.

One-second tool: Finished = already. Expected but not finished = yet. Continuing = still.

Use small TOEIC mistakes as a diagnostic

If you know these words during study but miss them under time pressure, the problem may not be vocabulary. It may be that you are choosing before checking the sentence timing.

My TOEIC Coach helps test-takers notice these small decision habits and build a more reliable approach to Part 5.

Take the TOEIC Learning Block Diagnostic Find a TOEIC study plan Read Quick vs Quickly

Continue reading

Back to top TOEIC Strategy Library TOEIC Learning Block Diagnostic TOEIC Plan Finder Quick vs Quickly Since vs For Because vs Because Of
What’s the difference between already and yet? “Already” is for things that are done. “Yet” is for things that haven’t happened but are expected. Can I say “Did you already finish it”? It’s common in speaking, but TOEIC prefers “Have you already finished it?” When should I use “yet”? Use “yet” in questions and negative sentences. Example: “I haven’t finished yet.” Can I use “still” in positive sentences? Yes, if something is continuing. Example: “I still live in Tokyo.” Is “She’s yet working on it” correct? No. Say “She’s still working on it.” What does “already” mean in TOEIC questions? It means something is done, often earlier than expected. Can I use “yet” in positive sentences? No. “Yet” is not used in positive statements like “I finished yet.” What’s wrong with “I didn’t still get it”? “Still” is not used in negative past like that. Say “I still haven’t gotten it.” Can I say “still haven’t” in TOEIC? Yes. It’s correct and common. Example: “We still haven’t received the package.” Is it okay to say “He has still not yet arrived”? It sounds too heavy. Choose one: “He has still not arrived” or “He hasn’t arrived yet.” How do I know if I should use “still” or “yet”? Use “still” when something is continuing. Use “yet” for things that haven’t happened. Where do I put “already” in a sentence? Usually in the middle. Example: “She has already left.” Can I use “yet” at the beginning of a sentence? Not usually. It sounds strange. Keep it at the end: “Has she arrived yet?” Is “still” okay in formal writing? Yes. “Still” is neutral and used in both formal and casual writing. Can I use “already” in a question? Yes, but use it with perfect tenses. Example: “Have you already seen it?” Why does TOEIC test “yet” and “still”? Because many learners confuse them when under time pressure. What’s the meaning of “still” in TOEIC? It shows that something is not finished. Example: “They are still working.” Can I say “He’s already not here”? No. Say “He’s not here yet” or “He has already left.” Can I use “already” in negatives? Not usually. Say “not yet” or “still not” instead. How can I practice using “already,” “yet,” and “still”? Make example sentences from your life. Say them out loud and feel the difference in timing.