Present Perfect: Already, Yet, Just

This grammar focuses on the result of an action. It does not focus on the exact time. Imagine you are at a coffee shop. You see a friend. You want to know if they drank coffee. You do not care if it was at 9:00 AM. You only care if they are finished now. This is where just, already, and yet come in. They act like little time signals. Just means the action happened a second ago. Already means the action happened sooner than expected. Yet means the action has not happened but will. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green means already. Yellow means just. Red means yet. These words help people understand your schedule. They help you organize your day with others.

1. 1To build these sentences, follow these simple steps:
2. 2Start with your subject like I, You, He, or They.
3. 3Add the helping verb have or has.
4. 4Use has for He, She, and It only.
5. 5Use have for everyone else.
6. 6Put your special word (just or already) after the helping verb.
7. 7Add the past participle of your main verb.
8. 8For yet, put it at the very end of the sentence.
9. 9Example: I + have + just + eaten.
10. 10Example: She + has + already + left.
11. 11Example: They + have + not + arrived + yet.

Use just for very recent events. Imagine you are hanging up the phone. You can say, "I have just finished my call." It feels fresh and immediate. Use already when you are ahead of schedule. Your boss asks for a report. You finished it two hours ago. You say, "I have already sent it." It sounds very impressive and organized. Use yet for things you plan to do. You are hungry but have not eaten. You say, "I haven't had lunch yet." This tells people lunch is coming soon. Use yet in questions too. "Have you finished your homework yet?" It is perfect for checking progress. These words are great for job interviews. They show you are active and productive.

Do not use these words with specific times. Never say, "I have just eaten at 5:00." The word just is your time marker. Adding "at 5:00" confuses the listener. Do not use this tense for finished periods. If you mean "yesterday," use the Past Simple instead. Avoid using already in negative sentences. It sounds strange to say, "I haven't already gone." Use yet for negatives instead. Do not forget the helping verb. "I just finished" is common in casual speech. However, it is technically incorrect for this specific rule. Keep your past and present separate. If the action is totally over, use Past Simple. If it still matters now, stick with us here.

Many people forget to use has for third person. They say, "She have just arrived." Always remember that He, She, and It are special. Another mistake is the word order. People often put just at the end. "I have finished just" is not correct. Keep just and already between the verbs. Think of them as a sandwich filling. The verbs are the bread. Another mistake is using the wrong verb form. Do not say, "I have already went." The correct form is "gone." Using yet in positive sentences is also common. "I have eaten yet" sounds very confusing to locals. Only use yet for negatives and questions. It is like a puzzle piece. It only fits in certain spots.

Compare this to the Past Simple. Past Simple is a dead end. "I ate" means the action is in a box. Present Perfect is a living thing. "I have eaten" means I am full now. Just makes the Past Simple feel too slow. Already makes the Past Simple feel too late. Yet adds a feeling of expectation. Past Simple does not have this feeling. "I didn't do it" is a simple fact. "I haven't done it yet" is a promise. It tells the listener you will do it soon. This small change makes you sound much more polite. It shows you care about the future. It is the difference between a robot and a friend.