Grammar rule and drill

Present perfect with just, already and yet

Just for a moment ago, already for earlier than expected, yet for the question and the negative.

CEFR A2-B120 questionsUpdated 5 October 2026

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Just, already and yet are the small time words that make the present perfect precise. They say where an action sits in relation to now, and each one has its own home in the sentence.

Just means a very short time ago: "She has just left." Already means before now, or earlier than expected: "I have already seen it." Yet means until now, and it lives in questions and negatives: "Have you finished yet?"

The words are simple, but the position rules cause mistakes. This page shows where each word goes, how British and American usage differ, and the trap of mixing them with finished past time. The drill has 20 questions, each with a rule explanation.

The rule

Just: a very short time ago

Pattern: have or has plus just plus the past participle. "I have just finished."
Just describes something that happened moments ago, and the effect is still present: "He has just woken up, so he is still sleepy."
In British English, just goes with the present perfect. In American English, just often goes with the past simple: "I just finished."
Just now usually takes the past simple: "She left just now."

Already: sooner than expected

Pattern: have or has plus already plus the past participle. "They have already arrived."
Already says the action happened before now, or earlier than the speaker expected: "The shop has already closed. It is only five."
It is common in positive sentences. It can appear in questions to show surprise: "Have you already finished?"
Already can also sit at the end for emphasis: "I have seen it already." The middle position is the standard one.

Yet: until now

Yet means "up to now" and is used in questions and negatives: "Have you eaten yet?" "I have not eaten yet."
Yet normally goes at the end of the sentence, after the object: "She has not finished her homework yet."
In questions, yet asks whether something has happened by now: "Has the post arrived yet?"
In negatives, yet says the action has not happened, but it may still happen: "He has not called yet."

Position inside the sentence

Just and already sit between the auxiliary and the main verb: "has just left", "have already eaten".
They never go before the auxiliary in a statement: "I just have finished" is wrong.
Yet goes at the end of a question or negative. It is unusual in a positive statement.
Short answers can drop the verb but keep the word: "Have you finished?" "Already." "Not yet."

The past simple alternative

American English often uses the past simple with just: "I just ate." British English prefers "I have just eaten."
With finished time expressions, the past simple is required: "She just left at noon" is not clean; say "She left at noon."
Already and yet also appear with other tenses: past perfect ("the film had already started") and future ("the film will have started by then").
Do not use the present perfect with yesterday, last night or a finished clock time.

Examples

The bus has just left. It was here a second ago.Just shows the action happened moments ago.
Have you finished the report yet?Yet at the end of a question asks if the action has happened by now.
I have already booked the tickets, so we are ready.Already shows the booking happened sooner than expected.
I have not eaten yet.Not yet means up to now, with the possibility still open.
She has just come back from the gym.The returning happened a moment ago.
The children have already gone to bed, and it is only seven.Already marks the surprise: earlier than expected.
Has the post arrived yet?The question asks about the period up to now.
He has just woken up, so he is still sleepy.Just links the recent action to its present result.
I have not replied to her message yet.Yet sits at the end of the negative sentence.
We have just arrived home. The journey is over.A very recent action with a present result.

Common mistakes

Wrong: I have finished just my homework. Right: I have just finished my homework.: Just goes between have and the past participle, not after the object.
Wrong: I just have finished my homework. Right: I have just finished my homework.: In a statement, the auxiliary comes first. Just follows it.
Wrong: I have not finished my homework already. Right: I have not finished my homework yet.: Negatives take yet. Already belongs in positive statements and surprised questions.
Wrong: Did you have finished the report yet? Right: Have you finished the report yet?: Do not mix did with the present perfect. The question needs have.
Wrong: I have seen her yesterday. Right: I saw her yesterday.: Yesterday is a finished time and takes the past simple, whatever small time words you might add.

Questions learners ask

What is the difference between "just" and "just now"?

Just goes inside the present perfect: "She has just left." Just now goes at the end and usually takes the past simple: "She left just now." Both mean "a very short time ago", but they attach to different tenses in standard British English.

Can "already" go at the end of a sentence?

Yes, for emphasis: "I have seen that film already." The middle position is more common and neutral: "I have already seen that film." In questions, the end position shows surprise: "Have you finished already?"

Why do Americans say "Did you eat yet?"

American English often uses the past simple where British English uses the present perfect, especially with yet, just and already. In British English, "Have you eaten yet?" is standard. Both are correct in their own variety. Keep one style consistent in a piece of writing.