Language/French/Grammar/encore-VS-toujours
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"Encore" & "Toujours" have several meanings which make them difficult for the learner.
Both "encore" and "toujours" can mean "still"
Both "encore" and "toujours" can mean "still" in clauses which express a situation that is unfolding at the moment.
- Est-il encore/toujours ici?
Is he still there? (Her being here is a state of affairs unfolding right now)
- Elle se plaint encore/toujours
She is still complaining (His complaint is a state of affairs that is unfolding at the moment)
"Encore" can mean "again"
In clauses that describe an action that has been completed or that may potentially end, however, "encore" means "again":
- Il a encore perdu son sac
He has lost his bag again (His losing of the bag is a completed action)
- J'ai peur de m'énerver encore
I'm afraid to get angry again (Although I haven't done so yet, getting angry has the potential for being a completed action)
"Encore" can mean "still" or "again"
Note that if "encore" modifies the first clause, which expresses a state of affairs, it could mean either 'still' or 'again':
- J'ai encore peur de m'énerver
"I'm still afraid of getting angry" or "Once again I am afraid of getting angry"
"Encore" can mean "still more, further"
Where "encore" modifies a noun phrase or other adverbs it can mean "still more, further":
- Encore du lait, s'il vous plaît
More milk, please
- Ils ont parlé encore une ou deux heures
They talked a further one or two hours
- Elle est encore plus bavarde que son frère
She is even more talkative than her brother
- J'aime encore mieux son projet d'entreprise que la mien
I like his business plan even better than mine
"toujours" can also mean "always"
"toujours", in addition to meaning "still", can mean "always":
- Elles ont toujours été dures en affaire
They've always been tough on business
- On s'efforçait depuis toujours de me cacher la vérité sur mon enfance
They always tried to hide the truth about my childhood
"toujours" can also mean "still"
In sentences negated by the word "pas", if "toujours" placed before "pas" it means "still" (if it follows it means "always"):
- Son avion n'a toujours pas décollé
His plane still hasn't taken off
- Il n'a pas toujours été présent pour son fils adoptif
He was not always present for his adopted son
"encore" can also mean "yet"
"encore" can only follow "pas" and means "yet":
- Il n'est pas encore parti
He hasn't yet left
Videos: French Adverbs: When to Use Encore, Toujours and Déjà
Sources
- https://www.amazon.fr/s?k=9780340991244
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwWY76hq8EE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ernFuOcfpTU