Still and yet are both time adverbs, and both often point to something continuing in relation to the present. Learners confuse them because each can appear in sentences about unfinished actions, ongoing states, or expected completion. The key contrast is focus: still highlights continuation, while yet highlights completion that has not happened by now.

Still is the normal choice when the meaning is that a state or action continues. It usually appears before the main verb or after be, and it pairs well with progressive forms and stative verbs. In questions and negatives, still can also show that the situation is continuing longer than expected.

Idea	Example
Still shows continuation of an action or state.	She still works there.
Still usually comes before the main verb or after be.	He is still asleep.
Still fits progressive and stative meanings naturally.	I still know the answer.

Yet is the normal choice when the meaning is that completion has not happened by now. It most often appears at the end of negative sentences and in questions that ask whether completion has happened. In many formal or literary uses, yet can also mean however or even, but that is a different meaning from time reference.

Idea	Example
Yet marks missing completion in negatives.	I have not finished yet.
Yet in questions asks whether completion has happened.	Has she arrived yet
Yet often sits at the end of the sentence.	They are not ready yet.

Still normally modifies the verb or adjective directly, so it sits before the main verb or after forms of be. Yet is usually sentence-final in time meanings, especially in negatives and questions, and it often appears with auxiliaries or perfect forms. Both orders with not and yet are used in native speech, but the strongest and most standard pattern is still for continuation and yet for incomplete completion.

Idea	Example
Still comes before the main verb.	We still need time.
Yet often comes at the sentence end.	We do not know yet.
Yet commonly follows auxiliaries and perfect forms.	They have not left yet.

Some sentences can take either word because both can describe an unfinished situation, but the emphasis changes. I still have not finished stresses the continuing state of not being finished, while I have not finished yet stresses that completion has not happened by now. In many everyday contexts both are correct, and the choice depends on whether the speaker wants to emphasize continuation or expected completion.

Idea	Example
Still emphasizes continuation.	I still have not answered.
Yet emphasizes lack of completion by now.	I have not answered yet.
Both can be correct in the same situation.	She still has not called.

Beyond time reference, yet can also mean however in more formal or literary language, and it can mean even in phrases that heighten degree. Still can also introduce contrast, usually with the sense of despite that or nevertheless. These uses are separate from the time meanings and are not chosen by the same completion rule.

Idea	Example
Yet can mean however.	The road was long, yet we arrived.
Yet can mean even in formal language.	It was yet more difficult.
Still can mean nevertheless.	It was late, still they waited.

Use still when the main idea is that something continues. Use yet when the main idea is that something has not been completed by now. When both seem possible, the choice depends on whether continuation or completion is the focus, and that single contrast explains most of the confusion between them.