Language/Russian/Grammar/Tricky-Adverbs

Learn the difference between ‘Уже’ and ‘Ещё’ in Russian

Everyone who learns the Russian language asked himself or herself a question: "what’s the difference between ‘Уже’ and ‘Ещё’?".

The problem is that these two words can have more than one meaning. So let’s have a look more closely.

Уже

‘Уже’ is an adverb. It may be translated as ‘already’ or ‘any longer’.  

We use it if we have already done something we’re talking about. 

For example:

• Я уже выучил русский язык (I have already learnt Russian)
• Я уже обедаю (I have already started having lunch (and I am still doing it))

Easy? Very easy! Now let’s have a look at the word ‘ещё’ which also has several meaning (up to 7 or even more).

Ещё

‘Ещё’  is also an adverb.  

It can be translated as ‘still’ or ’yet’. Basically we you use when:

We want to do something again

• Я хочу сделать это ещё раз! (I want to do it again!)

We want to get some more of something

• Я хочу ещё пирога (I want some more pie)

We still do something

• Я ещё изучаю русский язык (I still learn Russian)
• Я ещё дома (I am still at home)

We do not know someone or something yet

• Я Вас ещё не знаю! (I don’t know you yet!)

Very easy! Now I would like to share with you an exercise to practice your new skill.

I am going to do first three examples and rests are for you, okay?

Exercises

1.    Владимир уже в университете? – Нет, он (1) дома. (Vladimir is already at the university? No, he at home.)

2.    У тебя есть машина? – Да, (2) есть. (Do you have a car? Yes, I have)

3.    Ты студент? – Нет, я (3) работаю. (Are you student? No, I'm working.)

4.    Ты сейчас завтракаешь? – Да, (4) завтракаю. (Are you eating breakfast now? Yes, I am having breakfast.)

5.    Ты читаешь?.  –  Да, (5) читаю. (You are reading? Yes, I read.)

6.    Ты (6) ужинаешь? – Нет, (7) обедаю. (Do you have supper? No, I have dinner.)

7.    Вы его помните? – Нет, (8) не помню. (Do you remember him? No, I do not.)

8.    Кто это? Я его (9)  не знаю. (Who is this? I do not know him.)

9.    Ты (10) школьник? – Нет, я (11) студент. (Are you a schoolboy? No, I'm a student.)

10.  Ты (12) изучаешь русский? – Да, (13) изучаю. (Are you studying Russian? Yes, I'm studying.)

I have to warn you that almost each sentence can include either ‘уже’ or ‘ещё’, it depends on the context and the idea you want to express.

So, please keep that in mind doing the exercises and please share your comments. They will be highly appreciated. 

Thank you for your attention and will to learn Russian. 

I hope to meet you again. That's all for today.