bereits or schon?
a2As a time adverb both mean the same thing: earlier than expected. schon is the ordinary word and can also urge or express surprise. bereits is the same statement in written, formal register and never carries that undertone.
schon
The default in speech and writing. Unstressed inside the sentence it also carries feeling: urging, surprise, reassurance.
Bist du schon da?Are you here already?
bereits
The same time adverb in formal register, typical of letters, news and reports. Time only, never feeling.
Wir haben Ihre Anfrage bereits weitergeleitet.We have already forwarded your enquiry.
The mistake
Jetzt komm bereits!
Jetzt komm schon!
Here „schon“ is not a time adverb but an urging particle. „bereits“ has no such meaning, and read as a time adverb the sentence makes no sense.
Rule of thumb
If it means „earlier than expected“, both work, but bereits only when the whole sentence is formal. If the sentence urges or marvels, only schon is possible.
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