already/before

[FW]

Is there a difference in the meanings of (or in the shades of meanings of):
1-I have met him before.
and
2-I have already met him.
and
3-I have met him already.

[RonBee]

Commentary.

Is there a difference in the meanings of (or in the shades of meanings of):
1-I have met him before.
and
2-I have already met him.
and
3-I have met him already.

Oh yes. There's a difference. :wink:

The first is the most neutral of the three. "I have met him before" = "I recall meeting him before".

"I have already met him" indicates that the person may not want to meet that person again or, at least, that there is no need for an introduction.

'I have met him already" is, I think, the same as number 2 but stronger (more emphatic).

[Tdol]

I think number bthree, the more emphatic form, is the one most likely to mean that a second introuction is unnecessary, although 2 would work, too.