still
You can use “still” as an adverb or as an adjective. Apply this word when something remains in one place, or when something continues from the past up to the present.
- Are you still studying? (adverb)
- The air feels still. (adjective)
- Are those apples still good? (adverb)
- How does that cat stay so still? (adverb)
- The water is still. (adjective)
After all of these years, he still likes to listen to rock music.
This video shows you some ways to use the word “still.”
a. Use "still" as an adverb or as an adjective.
The most common way to use “still” is as an adverb. It modifies a verb. Choose “still” to indicate that an action continues.
- The machine is still running. (“Still” modifies the verb “run.”)
- My friend, Mike, still lives in Chicago.
- Do you still want to go out tonight?
- They are still married after 30 years.
- It started to snow a few hours ago, and it’s still snowing.
In this next set of sentences, “still” is used with the verb “be.” This indicates a continuation of existence.
- My coffee is still hot.
- After 30 minutes, they were still in line.
- Those big birds are still there.
- They’re still there.
- Are you still at home?
- After five years, he’s still working at the same place.
- He’s still doing the same thing.
- Even though her boyfriend apologized to her a week ago, she’s still mad at him for what he did.
Note: It’s important to put “still” before the word that it modifies.
b. still = no movement
If something doesn’t move, or it doesn’t move very much, use “still.”
- The water on the lake is very still today. (adjective)
- Look at how still my dog is sitting. (adverb)
- She’s sitting still. (adverb)
- She’s very still. (adjective)
- Stay still! (This modifies the verb “stay.” It means no to move.)
- The children remained very still, hoping not be noticed.
- Look at how still the water is!
- It’s very still.
c. still = yet
The word “still” can be used in a way that is similar to the conjunction “yet.” In this case, there are two sentences. Use “still” at the beginning of the second sentence:
- We have made a lot of progress in addressing racism. Still, there a lot more that we can do to address this problem.
- Ralph and Marjorie argue all the time. Still, they remain married. (yet they remain married)
- The movie was long. Still, it was interesting.
- The movie was long, but it was still interesting. (Note the use of “but” and “still” together. That’s fairly common.)
- The faced a lot of obstacles to success. Still, they kept trying and persevered.
- Email is the fastest way to send a letter. Still, many people prefer to mail actual letters in an envelope.