已经……了 and 还没……呢 — already and not yet

You are late to the cinema

• You arrive at the cinema at eight. Your friend says the film began some time ago.
• movie电影diàn yǐngalready已经yǐjīngto start开始kāi shǐ(completed / change)了le。 — "The film has already started."

already已经yǐjīng + verb + (completed / change)了le

• already已经yǐjīng means "already". It goes before the verb, and (completed / change)了le usually comes at the end: I我wǒalready已经yǐjīngeat吃饭chī fàn(completed / change)了le, I have already eaten.
• The pattern says something has happened by now, often earlier than expected.

I我wǒalready已经yǐjīngeat吃饭chī fàn了le。

already已经yǐjīng with time and amounts

• With a length of time: he / him他tāalready已经yǐjīng学了xué le两年liǎng niánChinese language汉语hàn yǔ(completed / change)了le。 — "He has already studied Chinese for two years (and still does)."
• With a state or number: already已经yǐjīngten o'clock十点shí diǎn(completed / change)了le, it is already ten o'clock; he / him他tāalready已经yǐjīng二十岁èr shí suì(completed / change)了le, he is already twenty.

already已经yǐjīngten o'clock十点shí diǎn了le。

Not yet: still还háinot没méi(to have / there is有yǒu)……(and …? / softener)呢ne

• The negative of already已经yǐjīng…(completed / change)了le is still还háinot没méi…(and …? / softener)呢ne: I我wǒstill还háinot没méieat吃饭chī fàn(and …? / softener)呢ne。 — "I haven't eaten yet." Do not say already已经yǐjīngnot没méivariant of 吃吃chī.
• Ask with (yes/no ?)吗ma or not have / haven't没有méi yǒu: you你nǐalready已经yǐjīngto buy tickets买票mǎi piào(completed / change)了le(yes/no ?)吗ma？ / you你nǐto buy tickets买票mǎi piào(completed / change)了lenot have / haven't没有méi yǒu？

I我wǒstill还háinot没méieat吃饭chī fàn呢ne。

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