0
Tashiro Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Already vs yet
Hi, please help me.
"Do you know if she's left yet?"
If the sentence above changes into "... if she's already left?", does the meaning change?
"Do you know if she's left yet?"
If the sentence above changes into "... if she's already left?", does the meaning change?
Top answer
No, the meaning doesn't really change; it's just that with 'already' in the question, the speaker perhaps thinks she has indeed left, since unmarked 'yet' is used with questions and negative statements, while unmarked 'already' is applied to affirmative statements.
- No, the meaning doesn't really change; it's just that with 'already' in the question, the speaker perhaps thinks she has indeed left, since unmarked 'yet' is used with questions and negative statements, while unmarked 'already' is applied to affirmative statements.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
No, the meaning doesn't really change; it's just that with 'already' in the question, the speaker perhaps thinks she has indeed left, since unmarked 'yet' is used with questions and negative statements, while unmarked 'already' is applied to affirmative statements.
00
Thank you for the quick reply.
Which does "yet" modify, the main clause "do you know" or the if-clause "if she's left"?
Which does "yet" modify, the main clause "do you know" or the if-clause "if she's left"?
00
0
Related Questions