Use "already" with the past continuous

Question

“Many of our fellow drivers lost their livelihoods. Prior to the onslaught of Yolanda, they were already living in poverty. Wage alone is not enough to help workers cope,” said Judy Torres, a transport group leader in Tacloban.

Source: "ILO: More job creation program needed in Yolanda-hit areas", globalnation.inquirer.net

I feel confused about the use of "already" with the past continuous tense. It seems contradictory to me.

"already" expresses something had been done while the past continuous describes action and actions happening at that time.

Could you tell me your opinion?
Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

SquareI feel confused about the use of "already" with the past continuous tense. It seems contradictory to me.

It's rather common to describe an activity that started and was going on before a particular event.

The mother was about to scream at her son for playing video games and not doing his school work, but he was already busy studying his books. She saw him and smiled instead, thinking to herself, "What a good boy my son is!"

Using "already" show some surprise that an unexpected action was in progress.

CalifJim · Answer

SquareI feel confused about the use of "already" with the past continuous tense. It seems contradictory to me. "already" expresses something had been done while the past continuous describes action and actions happening at that time.

These paraphrases may help.

Prior to the onslaught of Yolanda, they were already living in poverty.
~
Prior to the onslaught of Yolanda, they were [already = by the time of this onslaught / by this time] living in poverty.
~
Prior to the onslaught of Yolanda, they were living in poverty — not later, as we might expect.
~
They were living in poverty sooner than we might expect — prior to the onslaught of Yolanda.

(The intent is to suggest that Yolanda did not cause poverty. Poverty was already there. Yolanda made the poverty worse.)
______________

Also,

When I arrived at the restaurant, everyone was already eating.
When Lucy joined them at the gym, they were already doing their exercises.
Before anyone could stop her, she was already drinking the poison!

CJ

Use "already" with the past continuous

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