1.表示“已經(jīng)”,通常用于肯定句,不用于否定句或疑問句(此時要用yet ).如：
He has already started.他已經(jīng)動身了.
Has he started yet?　他動身了嗎?
He hasn’t yet started./ He hasn’t started yet.他還沒有動身.
2.有時也用于疑問句,但往往含有問話人希望得到一個肯定回答或含有驚訝之意.如：
Has she gone to bed already?　她不是已經(jīng)上床了嗎?
Is he back already 　他怎么已回來了?
3.一般說來,already 不用于否定句,但它有時可用于否定的條件狀語從句中.如：
If he hasn’t seen the film already,he may get the ticket.
假若他還未看過這電影,他呆以弄到票的.
4.與already 連用的時態(tài)：
(1) 與行為動詞的完成體連用.如：
He has read the book already.他已讀過這本書.
By this time tomorrow I’ll have finished the job already.
到明天這個時候,我將已做完這工作.
(2) 與行為動詞的進行體連用.如：
He is already working.這已經(jīng)在工作了.
When I came in,he was already laying the table.
我進來時,他已在擺桌子了.
(3) 與持續(xù)性動詞或狀態(tài)動詞的一般現(xiàn)在時或一般過去時連用.如：
It’s already late.已經(jīng)遲了.
He already knew about it.那時他已知道此事了.