Have you received my email yet? - usage of yet

Hi,

“Have you received my email yet?”

In the sentence above, what does the meaning of “yet”? What nuance does it give to the whole sentence? What’s the difference between using yet and already? Please let me know!

Thanks in advance,
sweetpumpkin

‘Yet’ indicates that it is on the way and you are unsure whether or not it has reached the person or whether it is still in the system.

Hi Sweetpumpkin,

Your question:

'Yet has the sense of ‘so far’ often used in negative and interrogative sentences as in:

I haven’t answered your question yet

Have you answered my question yet?

‘Already’ suggests that an action has been completed as in:

I have already answered your question.

Alan