yet
yet — adverb
1. placed in a negative statement or a question when something that people are wait
placed in a negative statement or a question when something that people are waiting for has still not happened as of now
Hana has not finished her homework yet, so she cannot go outside to play.
negative: has not + past participle + yet
Has the afternoon mail arrived yet? I am waiting for a package from Japan.
question: Has + subject + past participle + yet?
The repair team has not yet arrived at the building site.
formal position: not yet + past participle
Aarav has not said sorry to his sister yet, even though they made up hours ago.
Has the doctor seen you yet, or are you still waiting in the hallway?
- not yet
- not ... yet
- yet? (in questions)
- already
'already' is used in positive sentences and questions to say something has happened sooner than expected; 'yet' focuses on something not done
Grammar Patterns
not + verb + yet
has/have not + past participle + yet
Has/Have + subject + past participle + yet?
Usage Note
In formal writing, 'not yet' can be placed before the main verb: 'The results have not yet been released.' In everyday speech, 'yet' normally comes at the end of the clause.
Common Mistakes
2. placed after a superlative form to mark the greatest or most extreme instance of
placed after a superlative form to mark the greatest or most extreme instance of its kind so far in time
This is the most exciting video game yet from that small studio.
pattern: the most + adjective + noun + yet
Last winter was the coldest yet recorded in northern Japan.
pattern: the + superlative + yet + past participle
Noa's latest painting is her best work yet by a wide margin.
The storm that hit the coast last night was the fiercest yet this season.
- best yet
- worst yet
- biggest yet
- most ... yet
Grammar Patterns
the + superlative + noun + yet
Usage Note
Common with 'best', 'worst', 'biggest', 'most'. The superlative usually carries a definite article ('the'). This pattern works for both present and past time references, as in 'the longest speech yet at this conference' or 'the best film yet of her career'.
Common Mistakes
3. in formal or literary English, means 'still' in positive sentences to say that a
in formal or literary English, means 'still' in positive sentences to say that a situation or state continues at the present time
There is yet time to change your mind before you sign the contract.
formal: There is yet + noun (there is still...)
There is yet much for scientists to learn about the deepest parts of the ocean.
there is yet + noun (formal affirmative still)
We may yet find a way to reach the village before the river floods.
Élise could yet become the youngest player ever to win the national chess title.
- yet time
- yet much
- may yet
- could yet
- still
'still' works in the same position in both formal and everyday English; 'yet' in this sense is more literary
- already
'already' suggests completion; 'yet' in this sense suggests continuation
Grammar Patterns
there is yet + noun
subject + may/could + yet + verb
have yet + noun phrase
Usage Note
Unlike sense 1, this use of 'yet' does NOT require a negative word. It appears in formal or literary contexts where 'still' could also be used. 'May yet' and 'could yet' suggest possibility despite difficulty.
Common Mistakes
4. used with a time period to say that something will continue from now onwards for
used with a time period to say that something will continue from now onwards for that length of time
The construction work will continue for another two months yet before the bridge opens.
pattern: will + continue + for + time + yet
Putri will be studying in London for three more years yet.
The rain could last for days yet, according to the weather report on the radio.
We have a long way to go yet before we reach the campsite before dark.
expression: have a long way to go yet
- for ... yet
- to go yet
- long way yet
- still
'I will still be here for two weeks' — 'still' works in the same position but does not carry the same emphasis on extra duration
Grammar Patterns
will + verb + for + time period + yet
have + noun phrase + to go yet
Usage Note
This sense combines 'yet' with a future time expression ('for two weeks', 'for years') to emphasise that the situation will last longer. It often appears with 'still' or 'yet' at the end of the clause.
Common Mistakes
5. used in the fixed structure 'have yet to' followed by an infinitive to say that
used in the fixed structure 'have yet to' followed by an infinitive to say that something has not happened up to now, often with the suggestion that it should or will happen
The committee has yet to announce the winner of the annual science award.
has yet to + infinitive (announce)
Nia has yet to learn how to ride a bicycle, even though she just turned ten.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined by the safety inspectors.
passive: has yet to be + past participle
Jin has yet to receive a reply from the university about his application for the scholarship.
The best parts of the trip have yet to come, so do not be too tired now.
idiomatic: have yet to come
- has yet to
- have yet to
- yet to be
- yet to come
- not yet
'have not yet + past participle' is more neutral and less formal; 'have yet to' carries a slightly more literary feel and often implies expectation
- already have
'I have already done it' contrasts with 'I have yet to do it'
Grammar Patterns
have/has yet to + infinitive
Usage Note
This construction is more emphatic than 'has not + past participle yet'. It often implies that the speaker expects the action to take place eventually. 'Have yet to' is used in both formal and informal contexts.
Common Mistakes
6. placed between a modal verb such as 'may' or 'could' and its main verb to sugges
placed between a modal verb such as 'may' or 'could' and its main verb to suggest that an event is still possible later, despite how things look at present
The doctors say the patient may yet recover fully from the infection.
may yet + infinitive (recover)
Andrés could yet win the race if he pushes harder in the final lap.
This small novel might yet become a bestseller once word gets around.
might yet + infinitive (become)
Beatrix may yet change her mind about moving abroad if she finds a good job here.
- may yet
- could yet
- might yet
- eventually
'eventually' is more certain and suggests it will happen; 'may yet' is less certain and emphasises present unlikelihood
- still
'could still win' has a similar meaning but 'still' focuses on continuation where 'yet' focuses on future possibility
- never
'may never' is the opposite — suggesting something will not happen at any time
Grammar Patterns
may/might/could yet + infinitive
Usage Note
Place 'yet' between the modal verb ('may', 'might', 'could') and the main verb. This sense carries hope or possibility — unlike sense 5 ('have yet to'), which focuses on something not done, this sense focuses on a future chance.
Common Mistakes
7. used before 'another', 'again', 'more', or a comparative to emphasise that the a
used before 'another', 'again', 'more', or a comparative to emphasise that the amount, degree, or number is increasing or has increased further
The cost of building materials rose yet again this quarter, putting pressure on small builders.
yet again: emphasises repetition
Mathieu made yet another mistake in his piano practice, so his teacher asked him to start over.
yet another + noun: one more on top of others
The new software is faster yet than the version from last year.
comparative + yet: degree increase
The kind old woman poured us yet more tea even though we had already drunk three cups.
Liang faced yet another delay on the train line and arrived late for the meeting.
- yet another
- yet again
- yet more
- faster yet
- worse yet
- no more
'no more' means nothing additional, the opposite of 'yet more'
Grammar Patterns
yet + comparative adjective/adverb
yet another + noun
yet again
yet more + noun
Usage Note
With comparatives ('faster yet', 'worse yet'), the word order can also be 'yet comparative' ('yet faster'). Both orders are correct, though 'yet faster' is slightly more formal. With 'another', 'again', and 'more', 'yet' always comes first: 'yet another', 'yet again', 'yet more'.
Common Mistakes
8. used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems surprising after what
used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems surprising after what has just been said, especially in writing or formal speech
The instructions looked simple enough, yet not a single person in the room could follow them correctly.
clause + , + yet + contrasting clause
It was a cold and rainy afternoon in late autumn, yet the children insisted on playing in the garden.
Tamar had very little acting experience before this role, yet her performance moved the whole audience to tears.
The hotel room was small and expensive, yet the ocean view from the window made it worth every penny.
sentence-initial: Yet, + clause (new sentence)
The old car has broken down many times over the years. Yet it still starts every morning without any trouble.
- and yet
- , yet
- Yet, ...
- nevertheless
more formal and heavier; 'yet' is shorter and flows more naturally in writing
- but
'but' is more common in speech; 'yet' carries a stronger sense of surprise or irony
- nonetheless
similar formality to 'nevertheless'; 'yet' is the most concise option
- and
'and' adds similar information without contrast; 'yet' explicitly signals contrast
Grammar Patterns
clause + , + yet + clause
Yet , + clause (beginning a new sentence)
Usage Note
This 'yet' can begin a new sentence (like 'Nevertheless') or connect two clauses within a single sentence (like 'but'). It is stronger than 'but' because it emphasises that the second fact is unexpected. In informal speech, 'but' or 'though' is more common.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'She is tired, yet she is also sleepy.' (not surprising/contrasting) — 'Yet' needs a real contrast. A better example: 'She is tired, yet she cannot fall asleep.'
as yet
idiomUp to the present time or a specific time in the past.
The cause of the accident is as yet unknown.
As yet, no one has claimed responsibility for the theft.
better yet
idiomUsed to suggest that something is even more desirable than the previous option.
You could email her, or better yet, call her directly.
We can take the bus, or better yet, walk there together.
not just yet
idiomNot at this moment, but likely very soon.
Don't leave the room just yet; we need to talk.
The pizza isn't ready just yet, so please wait.
Used to describe a situation where success is very close but ultimately not achieved.
They lost the final match; it was so near and yet so far.
The treasure was just ahead, but the cliff made it so near and yet so far.
yet — conjunction
1. used like 'but' to join two clauses when the second clause adds a fact that seem
used like 'but' to join two clauses when the second clause adds a fact that seems surprising or opposite to the first one
The football team lost the match, yet they played with great heart and determination until the final whistle.
clause + , + yet + surprising contrasting fact
The mountain path was steep and covered with loose rocks, yet the hikers pushed on bravely towards the summit.
Hari had only practised the piano for two months, yet he played the piece with surprising confidence.
The story seemed completely impossible, yet it turned out to be entirely true.
The recipe called for only five simple ingredients, yet the soup had a wonderfully rich and complex flavour.
simple ingredients → complex flavour (strong contrast)
- , yet
- and yet
- but
'but' is more neutral; 'yet' adds a sense of surprise that the second fact is true despite the first
- and yet
slightly stronger and more emphatic than 'yet' alone; 'and yet' is common in both speech and writing
- nevertheless
more formal; 'nevertheless' is an adverb, not a conjunction, so it requires different punctuation
Grammar Patterns
clause + , + yet + clause
Usage Note
Unlike 'but', 'yet' can be combined with 'and' ('and yet') for extra emphasis. The conjunction 'yet' differs from the adverb 'yet' (sense 8) in that it directly joins two clauses within a single sentence without needing a separate sentence break, and it cannot be moved to other positions in the clause.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'He is rich yet he is not happy, yet he works hard.' — Using 'yet' twice in different senses in the same sentence can confuse readers. Use 'but' for one of the contrasts.
Synonym discussion
Sense: adverb/8
These five words all signal contrast, but they differ in formality, sentence position, and the kind of contrast they create. 'Yet' (sense 8) is the most versatile of the formal contrast markers: it can join two clauses with a comma (like 'but') or begin a new sentence (like 'nevertheless'). 'But' is the most common in everyday speech and is the most neutral — it simply says one fact is different from another. 'Yet' adds a layer of surprise, suggesting the second fact is unexpected given the first. 'Neveretheless' and 'nonetheless' are more formal and weighty; they are less common in casual conversation and work best in academic or professional writing. 'Still' is less formal and focuses on continuation despite an obstacle ('It was raining, but we still went'). In writing, choose 'but' for neutral contrast, 'yet' for surprising contrast, and 'nevertheless'/'nonetheless' for formal argumentation or concession. Example: 'The evidence was weak. Nevertheless, the jury found him guilty.' Here 'yet' could replace 'nevertheless', but 'but' would feel too weak for the courtroom register.
Common collocations
Adverbs
- not yet
- yet again
- yet another
- yet more
- not ... yet
Phrases
- have yet to
- as yet
- the best yet
- the worst yet
- and yet
- may yet
- could yet
- might yet
Etymology
The word 'yet' comes from Old English 'giet' or 'geta', which meant 'still, up to now, further'. It is related to the Old Saxon 'ju' (yet) and the Old High German 'io' (always). The contrastive meaning ('nevertheless') developed in Middle English around the 13th century, growing out of the sense that something continues despite an obstacle. The superlative pattern (sense 2) appeared later, in the 17th century, as English speakers began using 'yet' after 'best', 'worst', and other extremes to mark the time boundary.