Ya, todavía and alguna vez
Already, not yet, ever, never: four little words you’ll use with the present perfect all the time.
Theory
Learn what each word means, then where it goes in the sentence.
The words
| Word | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| ya | Ya he comido. | I’ve already eaten. |
| todavía no | Todavía no he terminado. | I haven’t finished yet. |
| alguna vez | ¿Has estado alguna vez en Perú? | Have you ever been to Peru? |
| nunca | Nunca he montado a caballo. | I’ve never ridden a horse. |
| ya no | Ya no vivo aquí. | I don’t live here any more. |
| todavía | Todavía vivo con mis padres. | I still live with my parents. |
Questions and answers
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Ya has hecho los deberes? | Have you done your homework yet? |
| Sí, ya los he hecho. | Yes, I’ve already done it. |
| No, todavía no. | No, not yet. |
| ¿Has comido paella alguna vez? | Have you ever eaten paella? |
| No, nunca. | No, never. |
ya goes first
Ya he comido. = I’ve already eaten.
or at the end:
He comido ya. = I’ve eaten already.
todavía no before haber
Todavía no he llegado. = I haven’t arrived yet.
alguna vez: flexible
¿Has estado alguna vez en Cuba? = Have you ever been to Cuba?
¿Alguna vez has estado en Cuba? = Have you ever been to Cuba?
nunca = no… nunca
Nunca he ido. = I’ve never been.
= No he ido nunca.
ya in a question = yet
¿Ya has comido?
= Have you eaten yet?
How many times?
una vez, dos veces, muchas veces = once, twice, many times
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