Grammar guide Updated 2026-10-07

Already, Yet and Just: Present Perfect Time Markers

Already means something has happened, often sooner than expected. Yet means it has not happened up to now, and it belongs in questions and negatives. Just means it happened a very short time ago.

One line each

• Already — done, and sooner than expected: I've already booked the tickets.
• Yet — not done up to now: I haven't booked yet. Have you booked yet?
• Just — done a moment ago: She's just called.

Where they go

Two of the three sit in the same slot, between the auxiliary and the past participle. Yet is the odd one out.

In informal American speech already also drifts to the end: I've eaten already. In British English the middle slot is the safe choice.

Which tense they take

The three markers live in the present perfect, because the present perfect links a past action to now and all three markers are about where you stand at the moment of speaking. British English is firm about this: I've already eaten, I've just seen him, Have you finished yet?

American English often uses the past simple instead: I already ate, I just saw him, Did you finish yet? Both are correct inside their own variety, but do not mix them in one clause: I have already ate is wrong. A finished time expression also forces the past simple: I saw him yesterday, never I have seen him yesterday. The boundary is drawn in the since, for and ago guide.

Already, yet and still side by side

Still and yet often team up: He still hasn't replied means the waiting has gone on for a long time. Yet alone reports the fact; still adds the impatience.

Yet does more than one job

• A conjunction meaning but: The plan is simple, yet it works.
• Yet another means one more of the same, usually with a sigh: Yet another delay.
• As yet means until now, in formal writing: As yet, no decision has been made.
• Have yet to do is a formal negative: The committee has yet to decide. Do not add not.

Just does more than one job

• Only: I just need five minutes.
• Exactly: That's just what I wanted.
• A moment ago, with the past simple: He left just now. Here just now cannot take the present perfect.
• Softening a request: Could you just hold this for a second?

British and American usage

Ten errors to correct early

• Yet in a positive statement. I have finished yet → I have already finished.
• Already in a plain negative. I haven't already eaten → I haven't eaten yet; keep already for surprise only.
• Mixing varieties. I have already ate breaks two rules; use eaten.
• Wrong slot. I have eaten already just now piles three markers into one clause.
• Simple past for a present result. I don't finished yet → I haven't finished yet.
• Just now with the present perfect. Say He left just now.
• Yet doubling up. Have you already met him yet? needs one marker, not two.
• Still for yet. He didn't answer yet is American; British English wants He hasn't answered yet.
• A finished time with the present perfect. I've just seen him yesterday → I saw him yesterday.
• Yet mistaken for a time word. In It's cheap, yet it lasts, yet means but.

The present perfect guide covers when the tense is required; the past perfect guide handles the step back.

Fix it: ten sentences

Correct each sentence. Two of them need only one word removed.

1. I have yet finished my homework.
2. We have already not decided.
3. He has just left yet.
4. I have already ate lunch.
5. She hasn't already arrived.
6. They have yet to finishing the report.
7. I have seen him just now.
8. Have you already met my brother yet?
9. I am still not finished already.
10. We have just finished the project last week.

Answers

1 haven't finished yet · 2 haven't decided yet · 3 has just left · 4 have already eaten · 5 hasn't arrived yet · 6 have yet to finish · 7 saw him just now · 8 delete already or yet · 9 haven't finished yet · 10 finished the project last week.

Why. Negatives and questions take yet, positive statements take already, and a finished time expression always drags the sentence into the past simple. The present perfect continuous guide shows the neighbouring form, and the adverbs of frequency guide covers the other large family of mid-sentence markers.

Three drills and a speaking task

• Timeline questions. Give each pair a checklist (book a ticket, write an email, eat lunch, call home). They ask Have you ... yet? and answer with already or not yet, then report two answers back to the class.
• Guess my week. Learners write four things they have already done and two they haven't done yet. A partner guesses which is which using only questions.
• Just-a-minute news. Each learner reports three things they have just done, using just with the present perfect.
• Speaking extension. Pairs build a timeline of the day so far and must use a different marker in every sentence.

Frequently asked questions

Where do already, yet and just go in a sentence?

Already and just sit between have and the past participle: I have already eaten; She has just left. Yet goes at the end of the clause in questions and negatives: Have you finished yet?

Can I use already in a negative sentence?

Not normally. Negatives take yet: I haven't eaten yet. Already appears in a negative only to express surprise: Surely you haven't already finished?

Is I already ate correct?

In American English, yes; it is a normal spoken form. British English prefers the present perfect: I've already eaten.

What is the difference between just and just now?

Just goes with the present perfect and means a very short time ago: I've just spoken to her. Just now goes with the past simple: He left just now.

What does have yet to do mean?

It is a formal way of saying has not done something: The committee has yet to decide. It belongs in news writing rather than everyday speech.