already, yet, just and still

Examples

1. I have just spoken to the landlord.

2. She has already sent the form.

3. Have you heard back from them yet?

4. I still have not received the invoice.

Common mistakes

• ✗Wrong: I have yet finished.

  ✓Right: I have not finished yet.

  yet belongs at the end, and only in a negative or a question.

• ✗Wrong: I have already not eaten.

  ✓Right: I still have not eaten.

  For a situation that has not changed, use still before the negative.

• ✗Wrong: She just has arrived.

  ✓Right: She has just arrived.

  just goes between has and the participle, not before has.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AJust I have paid the bill.
   2. BI have paid just the bill.
   3. CI have just paid the bill.
   4. DI just have paid the bill.
   Show answer

   Answer: C I have just paid the bill.

   just sits between the auxiliary and the participle.

2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AYet has the post arrived?
   2. BHas the post yet arrived?
   3. CHas yet the post arrived?
   4. DHas the post arrived yet?
   Show answer

   Answer: D Has the post arrived yet?

   In a question yet goes right at the end.

3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AThey have yet left.
   2. BThey already have left yet.
   3. CThey have left already yet.
   4. DThey have already left.
   Show answer

   Answer: D They have already left.

   already says it happened sooner than expected, and yet cannot join it.

4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AI have not still had an answer.
   2. BI have still not had an answer yet already.
   3. CI still have not had an answer.
   4. DI yet have not had an answer.
   Show answer

   Answer: C I still have not had an answer.

   still before the negative says nothing has changed.

5. 5Fill in the gap.

   Do not throw that away — I have not read it _____.

   1. Aalready
   2. Byet
   3. Cjust
   4. Dstill
   Show answer

   Answer: B Do not throw that away — I have not read it yet.

   A negative about something expected takes yet at the end.

6. 6Fill in the gap.

   You are early — have you _____ finished?

   1. Ajust now
   2. Balready
   3. Cyet
   4. Dstill
   Show answer

   Answer: B You are early — have you already finished?

   already carries the surprise that it happened so soon.

7. 7Fill in the gap.

   She has _____ walked out of the door — you can still catch her.

   1. Ajust
   2. Byet
   3. Cstill
   4. Dalready been
   Show answer

   Answer: A She has just walked out of the door — you can still catch her.

   just means a moment ago.

8. 8Fill in the gap.

   It is nearly ten and he is _____ asleep.

   1. Ajust
   2. Bstill
   3. Calready not
   4. Dyet
   Show answer

   Answer: B It is nearly ten and he is still asleep.

   still in a positive sentence says the state continues.

9. 9Put the words in the right order.

   I have not signed the contract yet

   Show answer

   Answer: I have not signed the contract yet.

   yet closes the sentence in a negative.

10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    He has already told his manager

    Show answer

    Answer: He has already told his manager.

    already goes between the auxiliary and the participle.