Just, already, yet

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • just and already

The present perfect with just, already, yet and still: The chef has just arrived, but the flowers haven't come yet. Where each word goes, and Yes, it has. / No, not yet. From a new restaurant's last hour before it opens to a game of guessing what has just happened.

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has just leftalreadynot … yet

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: opening nightReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find just, already, yet and stillGrammar exercise
  6. 6just, already, yet, stillGrammar rule
  7. 7Which word?Grammar exercise
  8. 8The new officeGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12What has just happened?Speaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: Chiara's tripGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which answer is right?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: my first weekDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Have you ever eaten at a restaurant on its first day?
  2. What have you done so far today?
  3. Are you usually early, or do you often arrive at the last minute?

Grammar rule

just, already, yet, still

have / has + just, already, yet, still

PositiveNegativeQuestion
just = a very short time agoThe bus has just left.Have you just woken up?
already = before now, maybe sooner than we thoughtI've already voted.Have they already gone home?
yet = up to now (and we expect it)We haven't decided yet.Has the game started yet?
still + haven't / hasn't = it hasn't happened, and it is lateMy cousin still hasn't paid me back.

Where they go: just and already go between have / has and the past participle. yet usually goes at the end (a time word like today can come after it). still goes before haven't / hasn't.

Short answers: Has the game started yet? — Yes, it has. / No, it hasn't. / No, not yet.

Watch out: in a negative, use yet, not already: We haven't voted yet (not We haven't already voted). In a positive sentence, use already, not yet: We've already voted (not We've voted yet). And after have / has, the past participle: Has it come yet? (not Has it came yet?)
In American English, people often use the past simple with these words: I just saw it. Did you eat yet? Both are correct. In this lesson, we practice the present perfect.

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