Welcome back to engVid. Today we are looking at some short words that we really need to
be able to use accurately to help you with your English.
Today is aimed at beginners who have particular problems with these words:
"still", "yet", "always", "already",
"no longer", "not quite", "nearly".
There are several different ways of using these words. This video aims to show you how.
Okay, we have a situation. Benjamin has found himself looking for other work.
He needs to get a new job in a garden of... In a hotel garden. Okay?
So, off I go, I'm going along to the interview.
And I know that the first question they're going to ask me is:
"So, why do you want to work here?" They always ask it, let's face it.
So, preparing for my interview, I'm going to try to use this word "still" in not one, not two, not three,
but four different ways; as an adjective, a conjunction, a noun, and as a verb. Do you think I can do it?
Yeah, come on. Right. So first of all, I can use it as a describing word. Okay?
So, "still" means lovely, calm, and quiet. Or as a conjunction, so I'm saying something,
and then I change my mind. I say: "Still", and then I go off by saying something totally
different. I could use it as a noun, but then I will be using "stillness", a sense of stillness.
Okay? And I can use it as a verb, meaning to make quiet.
Okay, so off I trot along to the interview, feeling pretty good, I think I can do it.
And they say to me: "So, Benjamin, why do you want to work here?" And I say:
"Well, it's a lovely place. I really enjoy the... The still atmosphere that is in the garden.
I can imagine working here, definitely.
Still, I do have a few concerns and reservations that I would like to speak to you about."
And they say: "Oh yes, yes, tell us, Benjamin, what are they?"
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo.
Now I need to use "still" as a noun.
"But overall, I really do love the... The sense of stillness that is to be found in these beautiful gardens."
Okay? And then I go: "Okay, and I will remember to still my voice when I'm around the guests
so that they can relax." Okay. Still, we've done it. Let's move on to "yet".
Okay, so "yet" is an adverb that basically means "but", or if you prefer: "in spite of".
I can also use "yet" in this phrase: "As of yet", meaning: "So far this is what's happened".
Okay? So, the interview panel-okay?-the few people asking me the questions say to me:
"Benjamin, you don't seem to have much experience as a gardener. What makes you think that you can actually do this job?"
And I say: "Well, it may look like that from my CV, my curriculum vitae,
yet I do actually have quite a lot of experience because I've always been doing this in my spare time.
As of yet, I may not have much formal experience, but that does
not mean that I do not have the skills that I need."
Okay? So: "yet" meaning "but", and
"so far" if it's used with "as of yet".
"Always" you're probably familiar with. It means forever.
"I have always been gardening. It's a passion.
I really enjoy it, finding about the names of plants, etc."
Kind of, I'm just saying it for the interview.
"Already" meaning before expected. "I have already learnt how to... I have already had
a good look around the garden and I know what goes where, and when the plants come into bloom."
See, I'm doing a good job of blagging here, aren't I? Okay.
"No longer", what does that mean? Well, two sort of differences, firstly to do with time.
Okay? Once something was and now it is not. For example:
"I am no longer working as a driver. I was working as a driver,
but now I am not so I want to work as a gardener."
And the second meaning of "no longer" is to talk about distance.
The interview panel ask me, they say:
"Benjamin, you seem to have a long commute here", a long commute, a journey into work. Yeah.
Well, I say: "It's not longer than a couple of miles, no, I can do it easily. No problem".
"No longer than", meaning it's not more than. Next phrase: "not quite". Here we're referring to an amount or an ability.
So they might say to me... What could they say?
"Benjamin, what are your expectations from us?" and I could say:
"Well, I'm not quite sure what you mean by that." It means:
"Not quite... I'm not totally sure." So, this is more to do with ability.
"I'm not totally sure what you mean by that question."
Amount: -"Have you got 20 pounds?" -"Not quite. I've got 19 pounds." Okay?
Let's think of another use of ability.
-"Can you play the oboe really well?" -"Not quite, but I'm trying."
Okay, we're on to "nearly". Here we are referring to time, amount, or ability. Okay.
My first day... I managed to get that job, by the way. Thanks very much. Yeah, thanks. But my first
day I arrived to work late and they say: "Benjamin, late? You're meant to be here at 8 o'clock,
it's 8:02." And I say: "Well, I nearly got here on time."
Amount, I come in from my coffee
break after the first morning and they say: "Benjamin, have you finished that flower bed?"
And I said: "Not quite, but nearly. I've nearly finished it."
And thirdly, let's think of
another usage here, ability. They say to me:
"Benjamin, have you learnt how to prune (to cut) the rosebush?" And I say:
"Nearly. Give me another week and I'll be able to do that rosebush."
Okay, so: "still", yeah, all of these different uses of it. It's the sense of calm, but it's
also the conjunction. "Yet", meaning "but". "As of yet", so far I haven't quite done this.
"Always", forever. I've always been doing this. I've "already" done that-yeah?-before
you thought I would. "No longer", talking about time and distance. "Not quite", I haven't
quite done that, but nearly. I've "nearly" done it, and "nearly" can refer to time and
amount, or an ability.
Go forth and use these words, and I will see you in the next video.