HOW TO USE “ALREADY”

As an adverb, “already” is used in to show that:
 (1) something is currently happening;
 (2) something was finished before something else happened;
 (3) something was completed earlier than expected.

 Examples:

 (1)

 “We already work a 32-hour week on average (pretty much a four-day week); it’s just that it’s predominantly women who work part-time.”
 When using the simple present tense, as above, “already” is normally placed before the verb.
 This article discusses the possibility of a shorter working week; “already” is used here to indicate that, on average, people do work a shorter working work than the 40 hours that is classed as full-time work. In other words, the shorter working week in question is currently happening.

 “Upland farming is already delivering a plethora of ‘public goods’ but the expertise to manage the land will be lost without long-term public funding, a new report warns.”
 Here, the present continuous tense is used, and “already” is placed between the present tense of the verb “to be” and the -ing form of the verb.

 (2)

  “I had already packed the girls’ bags and bought their school uniforms.”
 Here, the past perfect tense is used; “already” is placed between “had” and the past tense of the verb “to pack.”

 “The members had already voted unanimously to declare a ‘climate emergency’.”

 (3)

 “A man in his 20s is already working on his Christmas light display - in October.”

 “Tesco is closing its Jack’s Supermarkets already”
 Here, “already” is placed at the end of the sentence. It would also be correct to place it before “closing.”


Photo credit: Steven Feather (Creative Commons)