We're all still learning…

We recently had a subscriber ask us about tips on teaching the adverbs still, no longer, and not anymore. When we want to express a continuing action in the present, we use the present progressive (present continuous) for action verbs and the simple present for non-action verbs.

The adverb still is the natural choice for emphasizing an ongoing action. When we want to explain that we used to do something, but we've since stopped that ongoing action, the adverbs no longer and not anymore do the job nicely.

So why do students sometimes struggle with these adverbs? The sentence positions are all different! Listing the various positions for them often helps.

Still

Simple Present:	Still + Verb
Simple Present (Be):	Be + Still
Present Progressive:	Be + Still + -ing Verb
Examples:	I still want to go to Europe even though I can't afford it. She is still tired from hiking last weekend. He is still trying to find the answer.

No Longer

Simple Present:	No longer + Verb
Simple Present (Be):	Be + No longer
Present Progressive:	Be + No longer + -ing Verb
Examples:	They no longer think it is the best solution. We are no longer worried about our bills. I am no longer waiting to hear back from that company.

Not Anymore

Simple Present:	Do + Not + Verb (+ O) + Anymore
Simple Present (Be):	Be + Not (+ O) + Anymore
Present Progressive:	Be + Not + -ing Verb (+ O) + Anymore
Examples:	She doesn't need that book anymore. I am not a student anymore. My friend isn't dating that guy anymore.

Note: Not anymore is pretty common as a short answer.

A: Are you still going to the party tonight?
B: Not anymore

Still, Already, Yet

Students are often confused by still because it has two different uses. When still and yet are used with the present perfect, they signal the intention to do something, and they are always used with a negative verb. Already emphasizes that an action is completed, and it follows the normal adverb pattern.

Still:	Still + Have + Not + Past Participle
Yet:	Have + Not + Past Participle (+ O) + Yet
Already:	Have + Already + Past Participle
Examples:	I still haven't finished my homework. She hasn't taken her final exam yet. He has already given his presentation.

Practice

Have your students discuss (or write about) their habits, both good and bad. What do they still do? What do they no longer do/what don't they do anymore? They could also discuss their hobbies, jobs/studies, food, etc.