juba / veel / alles

Already, Still, Only Just

Level 2

Ta on juba kodus means He is already home. Ta pole veel tulnud means He has not come yet. Ta tuli alles eile means He only came yesterday.

How It Works

juba means already: Ta on juba kodus. Kas sa oled juba söönud?

veel has three common uses:

  • still: Laps magab veel. (The child is still sleeping.)
  • not yet, with a negative: Ta pole veel tulnud. The short answer is Veel mitte or Mitte veel.
  • more, another: veel üks kohv, veel kord.

alles says something happened later than expected, or that less time has passed (or someone is younger) than expected:

  • only just, not until: Ta tuli alles eile. (He came only yesterday.)
  • only, still just: Kell on alles kuus. Ta on alles laps.
  • With olema or jääma it also means left, remaining: Kas kooki on veel alles?

For no longer or not anymore, use enam with a negative: Ta ei ela enam siin. Do not use juba for this meaning.

Examples (6)

  1. Ta on juba kodus.

    She is already home.

  2. Ta pole veel tulnud.

    He has not come yet.

    Veel with a negative means yet.

  3. Ta tuli alles eile.

    She only came yesterday.

    Alles shows that this was later than expected.

  4. Laps magab veel.

    The child is still sleeping.

  5. Kell on alles kuus, jää veel natuke!

    It is only six, stay a little longer!

    Alles means only here; veel natuke means a little more.

  6. Kas sa oled juba söönud? – Ei, veel mitte.

    Have you eaten already? – No, not yet.

Common Mistakes

  • Using juba in the negative to mean not yet.

    Ta ei ole juba tulnud.
    Ta ei ole veel tulnud.

    With a negative, yet is veel. Juba does not have this meaning.

  • Using juba in the negative to mean no longer.

    Ta ei ela juba siin.
    Ta ei ela enam siin.

    No longer or not anymore is enam with a negative verb.

  • Using ainult when you mean not until.

    Ta tuli ainult eile.
    Ta tuli alles eile.

    Ainult eile means only on that day and no other. To say he did not come until yesterday, use alles.

How It Connects

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juba / veel / allesLevel 2Already, Still, Only Just

Learn This First

These words often go with the perfect.

Words in This Pattern

veelallesenam