Unit

111 still any more yet already

A We use still to say that a situation or action is continuing. It hasn’t changed or stopped:
It’s ten o’clock and Joe is still in bed.
When I went to bed, Chris was still working.
Do you still want to go away or have you changed your mind?
Still also means ‘in spite of this’. For example:
He has everything he needs, but he’s still unhappy.
Still usually goes in the middle of the sentence with the verb. See Unit 110.

B We use not … any more or not … any longer to say that a situation has changed.
Any more and any longer go at the end of a sentence:
Lucy doesn’t work here any more. She left last month. or
Lucy doesn’t work here any longer.
We used to be good friends, but we aren’t any more. or … we aren’t any longer.
You can write any more (2 words) or anymore (1 word).
You can also use no longer. No longer goes in the middle of the sentence:
Lucy no longer works here.
We do not normally use no more in this way:
We are no longer friends. (not we are no more friends)
Compare still and not … any more:
Sally still works here, but Lucy doesn’t work here any more.

C We use yet mainly in negative sentences (He isn’t here yet) and questions (Is he here yet?).
Yet (= until now) shows that the speaker expects something to happen.
Yet usually goes at the end of a sentence:
It’s 10 o’clock and Joe isn’t here yet.
Have you decided what to do yet?
‘Where are you going on holiday?’ ‘We don’t know yet.’
We often use yet with the present perfect (‘Have you decided … yet?’). See Unit 7C.
Compare yet and still:
Mike lost his job six months ago and is still unemployed.
Mike lost his job six months ago and hasn’t found another job yet.
Is it still raining?
Has it stopped raining yet?
Still is also possible in negative sentences (before the negative):
She said she would be here an hour ago and she still hasn’t come.
This is similar to ‘she hasn’t come yet’. But still … not shows a stronger feeling of surprise or
impatience. Compare:
I sent him an invitation last week. He hasn’t replied yet. (but I expect he will reply soon)
I sent him an invitation weeks ago and he still hasn’t replied. (he should have replied
before now)

D We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected.

‘What time is Sue leaving?’ ‘She has already left.’ (= sooner than you expected)
Shall I tell Joe what happened or does he already know?
I’ve just had lunch and I’m already hungry.
Already usually goes in the middle of a sentence (see Unit 110) or at the end:
She’s already left. or She’s left already.

222 Present perfect + already/yet ➜ Unit 7C Word order ➜ Unit 110

Unit
112 even
A Study this example situation:

Tina loves watching TV.

She has a television in every room of the house,
even the bathroom.
We use even to say that something is unusual
or surprising. It is not usual to have a television
in the bathroom.
Some more examples:
These pictures are really awful. Even I take better pictures than these.
(and I’m certainly not a good photographer)
He always wears a coat, even in hot weather.
The print was very small. I couldn’t read it, even with glasses.
Nobody would help her, not even her best friend. or
Not even her best friend would help her.

B You can use even with the verb in the middle of a sentence (see Unit 110):
Laura has travelled all over the world. She’s even been to the Antarctic.
They are very rich. They even have their own private jet.
You can use even with a negative (not even, can’t even, don’t even etc.):
I can’t cook. I can’t even boil an egg. (and boiling an egg is very easy)
They weren’t very friendly to us. They didn’t even say hello.
Jessica is very fit. She’s been running quite fast and she’s not even out of breath.

C You can use even + comparative (cheaper / more expensive etc.):

I got up very early, but Jack got up even earlier.
I knew I didn’t have much money, but I have even less than I thought.
We were very surprised to get an email from her. We were even more surprised when she
came to see us a few days later.

D even though / even when / even if

We use even though / even when / even if + subject + verb:
Even though Tina can’t drive, she has a car.
subject + verb
He never shouts, even when he’s angry.
This river is dangerous. It’s dangerous to swim in it, even if you’re a strong swimmer.
We do not use even + subject + verb. We say:
Even though she can’t drive, she has a car. (not even she can’t drive)
I can’t reach the shelf even if I stand on a chair. (not even I stand)
Compare even if and even (without if):
It’s dangerous to swim here even if you’re a strong swimmer. (not even you are)
The river is dangerous, even for strong swimmers.
Compare even if and if:
We’re going to the beach tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like.
We’re going even if the weather is bad.
We want to go to the beach tomorrow, but we won’t go if the weather is bad.

224 if and when ➜ Unit 25D though / even though ➜ Unit 113E
Unitalthough though even though
113 in spite of despite
A Study this example situation:

Last year Paul and Sarah had a holiday by the sea.

It rained a lot, but they had a good time.
You can say:
Although it rained a lot, they had a good time.
(= It rained a lot, but they …)
or
In spite of ⎫ the rain, they had a good time.
⎬
Despite ⎭

B After although we use a subject + verb:

Although it rained a lot, they had a good time.
I didn’t apply for the job although I had the necessary qualifications.
Compare the meaning of although and because:
We went out although it was raining heavily.
We didn’t go out because it was raining heavily.

C After in spite of or despite, we use a noun, a pronoun (this/that/what etc.) or -ing:

In spite of the rain, we had a good time.
She wasn’t well, but in spite of this she continued working.
In spite of what I said yesterday, I still love you.
I didn’t apply for the job in spite of having the necessary qualifications.
Despite is the same as in spite of. We say in spite of, but despite (without of):
She wasn’t well, but despite this she continued working. (not despite of this)
You can say ‘in spite of the fact (that) …’ and ‘despite the fact (that) …’ :
⎧ in spite of the fact (that) ⎧
I didn’t apply for the job ⎨ ⎨ I had the necessary qualifications.
⎩ despite the fact (that) ⎩
Compare in spite of and because of:
We went out in spite of the rain. (or … despite the rain.)
We didn’t go out because of the rain.

D Compare although and in spite of / despite:

Although the traffic was bad, ⎧
⎨ we arrived on time. (not in spite of the traffic was bad)
In spite of the traffic, ⎩
⎧
I couldn’t sleep ⎨ although I was very tired.
⎩ despite being very tired. (not despite I was tired)

E though = although:
I didn’t apply for the job though I had the necessary qualifications.
In spoken English we often use though at the end of a sentence:
The house isn’t so nice. I like the garden though. (= but I like the garden)
I see them every day. I’ve never spoken to them though. (= but I’ve never spoken to them)
Even though (but not ‘even’ alone) is similar to although:
Even though I was really tired, I couldn’t sleep. (not even I was really tired)

226 even ➜ Unit 112

Unit
114 in case
A Study this example situation:

Your car should have a spare wheel in case you have

a puncture.
(= because it is possible you will have a puncture)
in case something happens =
because it is possible it will happen

Some more examples of in case:

I’d better write down my password in case I forget it.
(= because it is possible I will forget it)
Shall I draw a map for you in case you have a problem finding our house?
(= because it is possible you will have problems finding it)
I’ll remind them about the meeting in case they’ve forgotten.
(= because it is possible they have forgotten)
We use just in case for a smaller possibility:
I don’t think it will rain, but I’ll take an umbrella just in case. (= just in case it rains)
We do not use will after in case (see also Unit 25):
I’ll write down my password in case I forget it. (not in case I will forget)

B In case and if are not the same. We use in case to say why somebody does (or doesn’t do) something.
You do something now in case something happens later.
Compare:

in case if
We’ll buy some more food in case We’ll buy some more food if Tom
Tom comes. comes.
(= Maybe Tom will come. We’ll buy (= Maybe Tom will come. If he comes,
some more food now, whether he comes we’ll buy some more food. If he doesn’t
or not. Then we’ll already have the food come, we won’t buy any more food.)
if he comes.)
I’ll give you my phone number in case You can call me on this number if you
you need to contact me. need to contact me.
You should insure your bike in case it You should inform the police if your
is stolen. bike is stolen.

C You can use in case + past to say why somebody did something:
I gave him my phone number in case he needed to contact me.
(= because it was possible that he would need to contact me)
I drew a map for Sarah in case she had a problem finding our house.
We rang the doorbell again in case they hadn’t heard it the first time.

D in case of = if there is … (especially on notices, instructions etc.):

In case of fire, please leave the building as quickly as possible. (= if there is a fire)
In case of emergency, call this number. (= if there is an emergency)

228 if ➜ Units 25, 38–40

Unit
115 unless as long as provided
A unless
Study this example situation:

The club is for members only.

You can’t go in unless you are a member.
This means:
You can’t go in except if you are a member.
You can go in only if you are a member.
unless = except if

Some more examples of unless:

I’ll see you tomorrow unless I have to work late.
(= except if I have to work late)
There are no buses to the beach. Unless you have a car, it’s difficult to get there.
(= except if you have a car)
A: Shall I tell Lisa what happened?
B: Not unless she asks you. (= tell her only if she asks you)
Ben hates to complain. He wouldn’t complain about something unless it was really bad.
(= except if it was really bad)
We can take a taxi to the restaurant – unless you’d prefer to walk. (= except if you’d
prefer to walk)
Instead of unless it is often possible to say if … not:
Unless we leave now, we’ll be late. or If we don’t leave now, we’ll …

B as long as / so long as and provided / providing

You can say as long as or so long as (= if, on condition that):
⎧ ⎫
You can borrow my car ⎨ as long as ⎬ you promise not to drive too fast.
⎩ so long as ⎭
(= You can borrow my car, but you must promise not to drive too fast. This is a condition.)
You can also say provided (that) or providing (that):
⎧ provided (that) ⎫
Travelling by car is convenient ⎨ ⎬ you have somewhere to park.
⎩ providing (that) ⎭
(= It’s convenient but only if you have somewhere to park.)
⎧ Providing (that) ⎫
⎨ ⎬ the room is clean, I don’t mind which hotel we stay at.
⎩ Provided (that) ⎭
(= The room must be clean, but otherwise I don’t mind.)

C unless / as long as etc. for the future

When we are talking about the future, we do not use will after unless / as long as / so long as /
provided / providing. We use a present tense (see Unit 25):
I’m not going out unless it stops raining. (not unless it will stop)
Providing the weather is good, we’re going to have a picnic tomorrow.
(not providing the weather will be good)

230 if ➜ Units 25, 38–40

Unit
116 as (as I walked … / as I was … etc.)
A as = at the same time as
You can use as when two things happen together at the same time: LIZ
We all waved goodbye to Liz as she drove away.
(we waved and she drove away at the same time)
As I walked along the street, I looked in the
shop windows.
Can you turn off the light as you go out, please?
Or you can say that something happened as you were doing
something else (in the middle of doing something else):
Kate slipped as she was getting off the bus.
We met Paul as we were leaving the hotel.
For the past continuous (was getting / were going etc.), see Unit 6. KATE

You can also use just as (= exactly at that moment):

Just as I sat down, the doorbell rang.
I had to leave just as the conversation was getting interesting.
We also use as when two things happen together in a longer period
of time: the day went on
As the day went on, the weather got worse.
I began to enjoy the job more as I got used to it. the weather got worse
Compare as and when:

We use as only if two things happen at the Use when (not as) if one thing happens after
same time. another.
As I drove home, I listened to music. When I got home, I had something to eat.
(= at the same time) (not as I got home)

B as = because
As also means ‘because’:
As I was hungry, I decided to find somewhere to eat.
(= because I was hungry)
As it’s late and we’re tired, let’s get a taxi home. (= because it’s late …)
We watched TV all evening as we didn’t have anything better to do.
As I don’t watch TV any more, I gave my television to a friend of mine.
You can also use since in this way:
Since it’s late and we’re tired, let’s get a taxi home.
Compare as (= because) and when:

David wasn’t in the office as he was on David lost his passport when he was
holiday. (= because he was on holiday) on holiday.
(= during the time he was away)
As they lived near us, we used to see When they lived near us, we used to
them quite often. see them quite often.
(= because they lived near us) (= at the time they lived near us)

232 as … as ➜ Unit 107 like and as ➜ Unit 117 as if ➜ Unit 118

Unit
117 like and as
A Like = similar to, the same as:
What a beautiful house! It’s like a palace. (not as a palace)
Be careful! The floor has been polished. It’s like walking on ice. (not as walking)
It’s raining again. I hate weather like this. (not as this)
‘What’s that noise?’ ‘It sounds like a baby crying.’ (not as a baby crying)
In these examples, like is a preposition. So it is followed by a noun (like a palace), a pronoun
(like this) or -ing (like walking).
Sometimes like = for example. You can also use such as:
I enjoy water sports, like surfing, scuba diving and water-skiing. or
I enjoy water sports, such as surfing …

B As = in the same way as, in the same condition as.

We use as with subject (S) + verb (V): S+V
I didn’t move anything. I left everything as it was. as it was
You should have done it as I showed you. as I showed
We also use like in this way (+ subject + verb):
I left everything like it was.
Compare as and like. You can say:
You should have done it as I showed you. or … like I showed you.
but You should have done it like this. (not as this)
We say as usual / as always:
You’re late as usual.
As always, Nick was the first to complain.
We say the same as … :
Your phone is the same as mine. (not the same like)

C Sometimes as (+ subject + verb) has other meanings. For example, after do:
You can do as you like. (= do what you like)
They did as they promised. (= They did what they promised.)
We also say as you know / as I said / as she expected / as I thought etc. :
As you know, it’s Emma’s birthday next week. (= you know this already)
Andy failed his driving test, as he expected. (= he expected this before)
Like is not usual in these expressions, except with say (like I said):
As I said yesterday, I’m sure we can solve the problem. or Like I said yesterday …

D As can also be a preposition (as + noun), but the meaning is different from like.
Compare:

As a taxi driver, I spend most of Everyone in the family wants me to drive

my working life in a car. them to places. I’m like a taxi driver.
(I am a taxi driver, it’s my job.) (I’m not a taxi driver, but I’m like one.)

As (preposition) = in the position of, in the form of etc. :

Many years ago I worked as a photographer. (I was a photographer)
Many words, for example ‘work’ and ‘rain’, can be used as verbs or nouns.
London is fine as a place to visit, but I wouldn’t like to live there.
The news of the tragedy came as a great shock.

234 as … as ➜ Unit 107 as (= at the same time as / because) ➜ Unit 116 as if ➜ Unit 118
Unit
118 like as if
A We use like or as if to say how somebody/something looks, sounds or feels:
That house looks like it’s going to fall down. or
That house looks as if it’s going to fall down.
Amy sounded like she had a cold, didn’t she? or
Amy sounded as if she had a cold, didn’t she?
I’ve just had a holiday, but I feel very tired. That house looks like it’s
going to fall down.
I don’t feel like I’ve had a holiday. or
I don’t feel as if I’ve had a holiday.
You can also use as though in these examples:
I don’t feel as though I’ve had a holiday.
Compare:
You look tired. (look + adjective)
You look like you haven’t slept. ⎧ (look like / as if + subject + verb)
You look as if you haven’t slept. ⎨⎩

B We say: it looks like … or it looks as if … It sounds like they’re

it sounds like … or it sounds as if … having a party next door.
Sarah is very late. It looks like she isn’t coming.
or It looks as if she isn’t coming.
It looked like it was going to rain, so we took
an umbrella.
or It looked as if it was going to rain …
The noise is very loud next door.
It sounds like they’re having a party.
or It sounds as if they’re …
You can also use as though:
It sounds as though they’re having a party.

C You can use like / as if / as though with other verbs to say how somebody does something:
He ran like he was running for his life.
After the interruption, the speaker went on talking as if nothing had happened.
When I told them my plan, they looked at me as though I was mad.

D After as if, we sometimes use the past when we are talking about the present.
For example:
I don’t like him. He talks as if he knew everything.
The meaning is not past. We use the past (as if he knew) because the idea is not real: he does not
know everything. We use the past in the same way with if and wish (see Unit 39).
We do not normally use like in this way.
Some more examples:
She’s always asking me to do things for her – as if I didn’t have enough to do already.
(I have enough to do already)
Joe’s only 40. Why do you talk about him as if he was an old man? (he isn’t an old man)
When you use the past in this way, you can use were instead of was:
Why do you talk about him as if he were an old man?
They treat me as if I were their own son. or … as if I was their own son.
(I’m not their son)

236 if I was/were ➜ Unit 39C look/sound etc. + adjective ➜ Unit 99C like and as ➜ Unit 117
Unit
119 during for while
A during
during = at a time between the start and end of something:
I fell asleep during the movie. (= at a time between
the start and end of the movie)
We met some really nice people during our holiday.
The ground is wet. It must have rained during the night.
With ‘time words’ (the morning, the night, the summer etc.),
you can usually say in or during:
It rained in the night. or … during the night.
I fell asleep during the movie.
It’s lovely here during the summer. or … in the summer.

B for and during

We use for (+ a period of time) to say how long something goes on:
We watched TV for two hours last night.
Jess is going away for a week in September.
How are you? I haven’t seen you for ages.
Are you going away for the weekend?
We do not use during to say how long something goes on. We do not say ‘during two hours’,
‘during five years’ etc. :
It rained for three days without stopping. (not during three days)
We use during to say when something happens (not how long). Compare during and for:
‘When did you fall asleep?’ ‘During the movie.’
‘How long were you asleep?’ ‘For half an hour.’

C during and while

Compare:

We use during + noun: We use while + subject + verb:

I fell asleep during the movie. I fell asleep while I was watching TV.
noun subject + verb

We met a lot of interesting people We met a lot of interesting people

during our holiday. while we were on holiday.
Robert suddenly began to feel ill Robert suddenly began to feel ill
during the exam. while he was doing the exam.

Some more examples of while: ALEX AMY

We saw Clare while we were waiting for the bus.
While you were out, there was a phone
call for you.
Alex read a book while Amy watched TV.
When we are talking about the future, we use the present
after while. Do not use ‘will’ (see Unit 25):
I’m going to Moscow next week. I hope the weather
will be good while I’m there. (not while I will be)
What are you going to do while you’re waiting? Alex read a book while Amy
(not while you’ll be waiting) watched TV.

238 for and since ➜ Unit 12A while + -ing ➜ Unit 68B