already, just, yet, still
Already, just, yet, still are adverbs that we often use with the Present Perfect or Past Perfect tense. In American English, these verbs can also appear in Past Simple, as it often replaces Present Perfect.
already, just, yet, still in Present Perfect
These adverbs (already, just, yet, still) are characteristic for the Present Perfect because they are used most often with that tense. The Present Perfect, is formed by using the auxiliary verb have or has and the past participle of the main verb.
Using Already
Already means something has happened or has been completed sooner than expected. We use it in positive sentences and questions. We usually place it between has/have and the verb in the past participle.
We went earlier.
Is it ready?
Remember!
Never place already after the verb!
In informal English, already. can go at the end of a sentence to show surprise or emphasize the point:
I’m surprised it ate quickly.
It’s a repeat viewing.
Asking if they have eaten by now.
In formal situations, it can also go at the start of a sentence:
More than 10 have won.
Already is rarely used in negative sentences, but when it is, it suggests something happened later than expected:
You should’ve been done.
Using Just
Just means recently or a short time ago, and is used in positive sentences and questions:
I got here recently.
They completed it recently.
Already and Just in American and British English:
In American English, the Present Perfect is often replaced by the Past Simple. So, just, already, yet, and still are used with the Past Simple:
I’ve just seen her. (Present Perfect)
She has just bought a new car. (Present Perfect)
Other Uses of Just:
It’s simply great!
She looks identical.
Only a minor injury.
The choice was fair.
Using Yet
Yet means still, up to now, or already. It’s used to show that something is expected to happen or to ask if something has happened yet. We use yet in negative sentences and questions, and it usually goes at the end of the sentence or question.
Asking if it has happened.
It hasn’t happened yet.
Is it discovered?
Boarding hasn’t begun.
Yet in positive sentences
In positive sentences in other tenses, yet can also mean up to now:
Up to this point.
Yet can also mean “however” as a conjunction:
But she wasn’t happy.
In formal situations, we can use “have yet to” or “be yet to” to talk about things that haven’t happened yet but will happen.
It’s not done but will be.
Other expressions with yet:
Despite waking early, he was late.
He steals again.
Further confusion.
The cake hasn’t been touched.
Using Still
Still means continuing or not finished, showing that something is ongoing. It can appear in positive, negative, and question forms, usually before the verb:
He continues to work there.
Is he cleaning now?
She continues to be unhappy.
If there are two verbs, still goes between them:
I continue to have time.
She’s continuing to exercise.
In negative sentences with two verbs, still goes before both:
It’s not yet functioning right.
In the Present Perfect, still only appears in negative sentences, meaning something hasn’t happened yet. It goes between the subject and have/has:
It’s not yet complete.
He’s not yet returned.
Your part isn’t finished.
Still in Different Tenses:
In perfect tenses, still shows that something hasn’t happened yet:
Homework isn’t finished.
In other tenses, still shows something is “still” ongoing:
She continues not to do it.
Other Meanings of Still
I’ll assist despite my dislike.
He remained motionless.
Already, Just, Yet, Still in Past Perfect
In Past Perfect, we use the adverbs already, just, yet, and still in the same way as in Present Perfect. Past Perfect sentences are formed with the auxiliary verb had and the past participle of the main verb.
We still hadn’t cooked dinner by the time he came back from work.
Yet vs. Already
Already: Used to talk about things or events that have already happened.
Just vs. Already
Used to talk about something that happened just before the moment of speaking or a specified time in the past. It emphasizes that something occurred a short time ago but doesn’t necessarily imply that it finished earlier than expected.
Used to talk about something that happened earlier than expected. It doesn’t specify when something happened but emphasizes that it occurred earlier than anticipated.
In Past Perfect, just emphasizes that the event was recent, while already emphasizes that something happened earlier than expected or before a certain time. Yet is used to express things that have not happened up to a specified time, and still indicates an action is/was still ongoing or continuing up to a certain point in the past/present.
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