encore/toujours

Question

I am always getting this wrong and wonder if there is a simple way that people remember when to use encore/toujours for "still" - i.e. why is the correct answer for this exercise, "ils sont ENCORE jeunes" (they are still/again young) and not "ils sont TOUJOURS jeunes (they are still/always young) ?

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Paul,
This is a very tricky grammar point in French.
Ils sont encore jeunes = They are still young
 -> but it won't be forever
Ils sont toujours jeunes = They are always young
 -> they will not age (and that's against nature, right! ;-) )
See links here: 
https://french.kwiziq.com/questions/view/encore-vs-toujours#Answer-1775
https://french.kwiziq.com/questions/view/c-est-encore-toujours-un-probleme-pour-moi#Answer-17687
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Answer

Paul, the reference to being ‘still young’ is to the grandchildren, and conveying that they are ‘still young at this point in time’. Encore fits better here. It is not always clear cut, although there is often a difference in emphasis between a specific, more definite time, and an indefinite period between them.

Note in particular the first line of each word’s definition in Larousse.

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/toujours/78644

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/encore/29244

Answer

Thanks Maarten and Céline. It was interesting to note that one of the answers you linked, Céline, was actually to a question I asked on exactly this same subject a year ago, which seems to suggest I have not progressed much since then. Sad face emoji.

Answer

Bonjour Paul,Don't feel disheartened! As I explained, it is a very tricky point to master. I have been there too with some intricacies of the English language. The fact that you are asking questions and being inquisitive about it is the best way to get there! "C'est en forgeant que l'on devient forgéron !" ;-)Bonne journée !