Present Perfect with Already, Yet, Just

This grammar connects the past to right now. We use the Present Perfect because the action is finished. However, the result is still important to us. When we add already, yet, or just, we add extra flavor. We are not just saying something happened. We are saying how we feel about the timing. Use just for things that happened a tiny moment ago. Use already when things happen sooner than you thought. Use yet when you are still waiting for something to happen. It is all about the relationship between the action and the present moment. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes, so don't worry!

1. 1To build these sentences, follow these simple steps:
2. 2Start with your subject (I, You, He, She, It, We, They).
3. 3Add the helping verb have or has. Remember, has is only for He, She, or It.
4. 4Place just or already right after the helping verb.
5. 5Add the past participle (the 3rd form of the verb, like eaten or seen).
6. 6For yet, put it at the very end of the sentence.
7. 7Example: I + have + just + finished + my coffee.
8. 8Example: She + has + already + left.
9. 9Example: Have + you + eaten + yet?

Use just when the news is fresh. Imagine you walk into a room and smell popcorn. You say, "I have just made some!" It happened maybe one minute ago. It is the "hot off the press" word.

Use already for surprises or being organized. If your boss asks for a report, and you finished it yesterday, say, "I have already sent it." It makes you look like a superstar. It shows the action happened earlier than expected.

Use yet for things on your to-do list. It is mostly for questions and negative sentences. If you are waiting for a pizza, you ask, "Has it arrived yet?" If you are still hungry, you say, "It hasn't arrived yet." It is the word of anticipation.

Do not use these words with specific past times. This is the biggest trap! You cannot say, "I have just seen him yesterday." That is like wearing a swimsuit to a ski resort. It just doesn't fit. If you have a specific time like yesterday, at 5 PM, or last week, use the Past Simple.

Also, avoid using yet in positive statements. You wouldn't say, "I have yet finished my homework" unless you want to sound like a 19th-century poet. Keep yet for the negatives and the questions. It’s much more natural for modern life.

One common mistake is putting already at the end of a negative sentence. People say, "I haven't already done it." That sounds very confusing to a native ear. Instead, use yet. Say, "I haven't done it yet."

Another mistake is forgetting the has for the third person. "She just arrived" is common in casual American English. But in standard B1 English, you need that helping verb: "She has just arrived."

Finally, watch out for the verb form. Don't say "I have just see him." Use the past participle: "I have just seen him." Think of it like a grammar sandwich. The have and the verb are the bread. Just or already is the delicious filling.

How is this different from the Past Simple? The Past Simple is a closed box. "I ate lunch" is just a fact about the past. "I have already eaten lunch" means "I am not hungry now." It has a present result.

What about still? Still also talks about things not happening. But still emphasizes that a situation is continuing longer than expected. "I still haven't finished" feels more frustrated than "I haven't finished yet." Yet is a bit more neutral. It is like the difference between a slow elevator and one that is completely broken.