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01This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Youssef in Egypt about the words still and unless.
02Dear VOA Learning English, When the word still is the first word in sentences, I am not sure what it can mean.
03Can you explain about this?
04Also, can you explain about the word unless?
05Thank you.
06I'm happy to answer your questions, Youssef.
07When the word still is used at the beginning of a sentence, it has a different meaning than the usual ones it has as an adverb.
08As an adverb, still can describe an action that began in the past and continues into the present.
09For example, The store is still open.
10She still does not have enough money to buy a car.
11But when still begins a sentence, it has a similar meaning to the word however.
12Using it suggests the sentence will offer something different from, or surprising, compared to the sentence or paragraph that came before it.
13Consider the following examples.
14Unless.
15He earns much less money in his new job.
16Still, he has more than enough money to pay his bills.
17The country's economy has been very weak in recent years.
18Still, many foreign companies plan to invest there.
19Unless.
20Unless.
21Unless.
22The online version of Oxford's Learner's Dictionary gives the following two definitions for the word unless.
23One.
24That something can only happen or be true in a particular situation.
25Two.
26The only situation in which something will not happen or be true.
27Two.
28So, the word unless means something can happen only if something else is, or is not, the case.
29For example, We will eat outside unless it rains.
30Unless the situation at the company improves, many employees might quit their jobs.
31For English learners, some expressions can seem very difficult to understand.
32Still, you can study them by carefully looking at examples and finding answers to your questions.
33For our readers and listeners, what are your questions about American English?
34We want to hear from you.
35Send us an email at learningenglish at voanews.com And please let us know where you are from, too.
36And that's Ask a Teacher.
37I'm Andrew Smith.
38I'm Andrew Smith.
39I'm Andrew Smith.
40I'm Andrew Smith.
41I'm Andrew Smith.
42I'm Andrew Smith.
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