Could you tell me when and how you would use "ya" in a sentence. It seems to be used in different contexts.
Thanks
Using "ya"

Miguel
March 18, 2007

nohablo
March 18, 2007
Yes, *ya* has lots of different meanings and uses. Here's what my Babylon online dictionary (which I *LOVE*) says about *ya*:
*ya*
adverbio
1 already
*esa película ya la he visto* I've already seen that film
*¿que ya se han casado?* what! they've got married already?
*el domingo ya no estaremos aquí* we'll already have left by Sunday
*eso ya no lo veré yo* I won't live to see that
2 (más tarde) later
*ya lo haré *I'll do it later
*ya te llamaré* I'll give you a ring
3 (ahora mismo) at once, right now, straightaway
*tienes que mandarlo ya* you must send it at once
*¡ya voy!* I'm coming!
4 (ahora) now
*ya viven en el piso nuevo *they're living in the new flat now
5 (uso enfático)
*ya lo sé* I know that
*es facilísimo, ya verás* it's dead easy, you'll see
*y ya no es por el dinero* ... and it's not the money that matters ...
6 (denota satisfacción)
*¡ya tenemos coche nuevo!* we've got the new car!
*¡ya están aquí! *they're here!
7 (con tono amenazante)
* ¡ya verás ya!* just you wait!
8 (con indignación)
*¡ya está bien!* enough is enough!
9 (para tranquilizar)
*ya encontrarás trabajo, ya verás como sí *you'll find a job, you'll see
10 (para afirmar) I know, yes
*tienes que estudiar -- ya, pero ...* you have to study -- I know, but ...
interjección
1 irónico oh yes!
FRASEOLOGÍA
*ya ... ya ... *now ... now ...
*ya ríe, ya llora* now she laughs, now she weeps
*fantasmas que ya surgen, ya se esfuman* ghosts which first appear and then vanish
*ya fueran católicos, ya protestantes* whether they be Catholic or Protestant
*ya entiendo* I see
*ya era hora* about time too
*¡ya está!* there we are!, all done!
*ya nos veremos* see you soon
*ya que* since, seeing that
*ya que estás aquí, quédate a cenar* seeing that you're here, why don't you stay for supper?