Do you know how to use just, yet, still and already?

These words are used most often with the Present Perfect tense, although yet, still, and already are used with other tenses.

✅ Just

Just is used almost exclusively with the present perfect tense and it means a very short time ago. In the present perfect tense, we put just between the auxiliary verb, have, and the past participle.

— I’ve just run into an old friend at the supermarket.

— Billy has just confirmed that he’s coming to the party this weekend.

— Have you just said something? Sorry, I wasn’t focused.

— Your client has just arrived.

✅ Yet

Yet is used to talk about something that is expected to happen. It means at any time up until now. It is used in questions and negative sentences only. When yet is used in questions, it has the same idea as still. When yet is used in negative sentences, it has the same idea as already. In the present perfect tense, we usually put yet at the end of the sentence or question.

— A: Have you finished preparing for the presentation yet?

The person asking the question expects that the presentation has been prepared or will be prepared very soon.

— B: I haven’t finished it yet. It will be finished tomorrow morning.

— Has the plane arrived yet?

— Have you finished that book yet?

✅ Still

Still is used to talk about something that hasn’t finished – especially when we expected it to finish earlier. Still is commonly used with many other tenses, not just the present perfect. In the present perfect tense, we usually put still in the middle of the phrase, between the subject and the auxiliary verb, have.

— I’ve been waiting for over an hour and my boss still hasn’t arrived for our meeting.

— Are you still working at the bank?

— We ordered our appetizers a long time ago and we still haven’t received them.

— I still haven’t seen that new movie that you recommended.

✅ Already

Already is used to say that something has happened early – or earlier than it was expected to happen. In the present perfect tense, we put already between the auxiliary verb, have, and the past participle - the same place as just.

— I’ve already used all of my vacation days this year.

— I can’t believe that the bus has already left. We aren’t late!

— She’s already told you what to do.

— They’ve already made the dinner reservations. It’s too late to cancel.

Let’s practice!

Complete the sentences below with just, yet, still, or already:

1. Have you __________ finished that presentation for the board meeting? You only started two hours ago!

2. Haven’t you finished that presentation for the board meeting __________? You started last week! 

3. I’ve been taking guitar lessons for 5 months but I __________ haven’t made much progress.

4. Thanks, but I’m okay. I’ve __________ eaten a pretty big lunch.

5. I ordered that book for you last week. Has it arrived __________?

➡ Listen to our podcast episode on this topic to continue learning and practicing! https://open.spotify.com/episode/079rwbzim0YgaVxafchYDA?si=bcJEZ6W0T8-35GlbjnzeQQ

Interested in more English language challenges? Follow our Instagram account @limlessons for daily quizzes and lessons. 

Sign up for an English lesson with one of our native speaker tutors to practice!