Still and yet both talk about time up to now, so they often appear in the same kinds of sentences. They do not describe an action by itself. They describe whether something continues, has not happened, or has not ended. A speaker uses them to show the link between the past and the present. Still points to something continuing now. Yet points to something not completed now, with the idea that it may happen later. Both words help place a state or event in relation to the present moment, so they are easy to confuse.

Core contrast in time reference

Idea
Use still when something continues up to now.
Use yet when something has not finished up to now but is expected to finish.

Use still when something began earlier and continues now. Use it for a situation that has not changed. She still lives in Madrid means she lived there before and lives there now.

Use yet when something has not happened or has not been completed up to now. It often carries the idea that the speaker expects it to happen later. The train hasn’t arrived yet means the arrival is late or still expected.

So still looks at continuation. Yet looks at unfinished result.

Using still in positive statements

Usage	Explanation
Continuing state	Use still to show that a situation continues in a positive statement.
Ongoing habit	Use still when an action or habit continues after you expected it to change.

In affirmative sentences, still shows that a condition remains true. It often appears with verbs that describe states, habits, jobs, locations, and feelings.

I’m still here says the person has not left. She still works there means her job continues. They still live with their parents shows that the living arrangement continues. The word comes before the main verb or before an adjective or adverb phrase: He still feels tired, The shop is still open.

The idea is always continuity from an earlier time to now.

Using still in questions and replies

Usage	Explanation
Checking continuation	Use still in a question when you want to know whether a situation continues.
Confirming continuation	Use still in a short answer to confirm that the situation continues.

In questions, still asks whether a previous situation continues. The speaker already knows that the situation existed before and wants to check if it is true now.

Are you still working? asks whether the work continues. Does he still play tennis? asks whether he plays now as before. Is the restaurant still open? asks whether it remains open at the present time.

Short answers often repeat the idea with still: Yes, I’m still working. No, she doesn’t still live here is not natural in most cases, so a clearer answer is No, she moved away.

Using yet in negative sentences

Usage	Explanation
Not finished by now	Use yet in a negative sentence to mean that something has not happened up to now.
Pending completion	Use yet when a result is still expected but has not arrived now.

In negative statements, yet means that something has not happened up to now. It often appears with present perfect verbs.

I’m not finished yet means the finishing is still pending. We haven’t left yet means the departure has not happened. The results aren’t ready yet means the results are expected but not available now.

The speaker uses yet to show that the situation is incomplete at the present moment. The sentence often suggests that the action may happen later.

Using yet in completion questions

Usage	Explanation
Expected result question	Use yet in a question when you ask whether something expected has happened.
Checking experience by now	Use yet to ask if an expected action has happened before now.

In questions, yet asks whether something expected has happened. It often appears when the speaker thinks the result should already be available.

Have you eaten yet? checks whether the meal has happened by now. Has the package arrived yet? asks about an expected arrival. Did they call you yet? is common in speech, especially when the speaker is waiting for contact.

These questions usually sound natural when there is an expected event, result, or reply.

Choosing between continuing and unfinished

Usage	Explanation
Continuing meaning	Use still when you mean that a situation continues now.
Unfinished meaning	Use yet when you mean that something is not finished by now.

Choose still when the key idea is continuation. Choose yet when the key idea is absence up to now.

She still works at the bank focuses on the job continuing. She hasn’t left the bank yet focuses on the departure not happening.

Are you still angry? asks whether the anger continues. Are you angry yet? is not the normal choice in most contexts, because yet does not ask about a continuing state in the same way. Instead, still fits the question about ongoing feeling.

When a sentence is about something remaining true, use still. When it is about something not completed by now, use yet.

Typical placement in sentences

Idea
Place still before the main verb or before an adjective.
Place yet at the end of negative statements and many questions.

Still usually comes before the main verb: I still want coffee, She still remembers his name. With be, it comes after the verb: He is still asleep, The office is still closed.

Yet usually goes at the end of negative statements and many questions: I haven’t called yet, They aren’t ready yet, Have you finished yet?

In both words, the position helps show the meaning clearly. Still sits close to the verb or adjective it modifies. Yet often closes the sentence when it means up to now in an unfinished situation.