Already, Yet& Just
Present Perfect adverbs
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Name 3 things you've already done today and 2 things you haven't done yet.
Tell your partner one thing you've JUST done (in the last hour). React with 'Oh nice!' or 'Really?'
Partner A names a chore. Partner B answers either 'I've already done it' OR 'I haven't done it yet'. Switch every 30 seconds.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minAlready, yet, just — three little words, huge impact
ALREADY = it happened earlier than expected (positive sentences).
→ I've already eaten — thanks anyway. (sooner than expected)
→ Have you finished yet? — No, not yet. (expected but not done)
→ She's just left — you missed her by 2 minutes! (very recent)
→ I haven't seen the new Spider-Man yet, but I've already booked tickets.
More detail
YET = expected but not done (negatives + questions, end of sentence). JUST = very recently, a few minutes ago (positive sentences). All three live between 'have/has' and the past participle, EXCEPT 'yet' which goes at the end.
Question 1.Don't cook for me — I ____ ____ eaten.
Question 2.Have you finished your homework ____?
Question 3.She ____ ____ left — try her mobile.
Question 4.I haven't booked the tickets ____.
Question 5.Wow, you ____ ____ finished the whole book? Already?
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to be on top of things
to have everything under control
"She's totally on top of things at work."
Are you on top of things this week? Why / why not?
to fall behind
to be late compared to a schedule
"I fell behind on my emails over the holidays."
Where have you fallen behind recently?
to get round to (doing) something
to finally find time for it
"I finally got round to fixing the bike."
Name something you still need to get round to.
back to back
one immediately after another
"I've got meetings back to back today."
What's back to back in your week?
in the nick of time
just before it was too late
"We arrived in the nick of time."
Tell a 'nick of time' story in 20 seconds.
what have you been up to?
informal: what's new with you?
"Hey! What have you been up to?"
Ask your partner using exactly this phrase — get a real answer.
guess what!
phrase to introduce exciting news
"Guess what — I got the job!"
Share real news starting with 'Guess what!'
no rush
informal: take your time
"Take your time — no rush."
Reassure your partner using 'no rush' about something specific.
Discuss with a partner
- →Roleplay bumping into an old friend — use 4 of today's phrases.
- →What have you been on top of — and what's fallen behind?
Finish the sentence about you
- Guess what! …
- I finally got round to …
- I'm completely on top of …
60-second write
Write a 4-line catch-up text exchange using 3 phrases.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minStressing the adverb to change meaning
- • I've alREADy done it.
- • She's JUST left.
- • I haven't finished YET.
- • Have you eaten alREADy? (surprise)
How to say it
The adverb (already / just / yet) usually carries the strongest stress in the sentence — it's the new information. Compare: 'I've ALREADY eaten' (= don't cook for me) vs 'I've already EATEN' (= I didn't drink). Use stress to highlight the surprise.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minSam's busy Monday
It's 11 a.m. and Sam is already exhausted. He's just finished his third meeting and he's only halfway through his to-do list. The good news: he's already replied to 40 emails and booked the flights for next week. The bad news: he hasn't called the client yet, he hasn't written the report yet, and he hasn't even had coffee yet. 'I've been here since 7,' he tells a colleague. 'I just need five minutes.' His phone rings. It's the client.
Question 1.How many meetings has Sam finished?
Question 2.What has he NOT done?
Question 3.Has he had coffee?
Q1.Sam has already booked the flights.
Q2.He has just written the report.
Q3.He has been at work since 7 a.m.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minFlatmate check-in
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Jess:Hey, you're home early! Have you eaten yet?
Mo:Yeah, I've just grabbed something on the way. What about you?
Jess:I've already had dinner — pasta. There's some left if you want.
Mo:I'm good, thanks. Hey, has the package arrived yet?
Jess:Yes! It came this morning. Oh, and guess what — I've finally got round to fixing the kitchen tap.
Mo:No way, you fixed it? You're on top of things today!
Question 1.Has Mo eaten?
Question 2.What did Jess have for dinner?
Question 3.What did Jess fix?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Listening Part 2 (short conversations)
Task
Spot WHEN something happened (already / just / not yet) — examiners love testing this distinction.
Strategy
Listen for the three signal words. 'Already' = done sooner than expected. 'Just' = very recent (last few minutes). 'Yet' in a NEGATIVE answer = not done. Don't confuse 'yet' with 'already' — they're nearly opposites in meaning even though both go with Present Perfect.
Example
Q: 'Has she sent the email?' — A: 'She's just sent it.' = Yes, a moment ago. ≠ 'She hasn't sent it yet.' = Not done.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.I'm not hungry — I've ____ had lunch.
Question 2.Has the train arrived ____?
Question 3.Quick — she's ____ walked out of the door!
Question 4.I haven't seen that film ____.
Question 5.He's finally got ____ to cleaning his desk.
Q1.Soften the surprise: 'You finished already??' → polite version
Q2.Reply 'no' naturally to: 'Have you sent the email?'
Q3.Make recent: 'I arrived 2 minutes ago.' →
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 90-word WhatsApp update to a friend about your day. Use 'already' twice, 'yet' twice, and 'just' once. Sound natural — not like a grammar test.
Show model answer
Hey! Quick update — what a day. I've already had three meetings and it's only lunchtime. I've just grabbed a sandwich and I'm eating it at my desk (classy). I haven't replied to your message yet — sorry! I haven't even opened my emails yet, to be honest. The good news: I've already booked Friday off, so I'll see you then. Anyway, back to it. What about you — what have you been up to today? xx
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
FLATMATE CHECK-IN · In pairs. You share a flat. Roleplay a quick evening catch-up. Each person must give: 1 thing they've ALREADY done today, 1 thing they HAVEN'T done YET, 1 thing they've JUST done. Then make one suggestion using 'shall we…?'. 3-minute scene.
Useful phrases
- • Have you ____ed yet?
- • I've just ____ed.
- • I've already ____ed.
- • Not yet — have you?
- • Guess what — I've finally…
- • Shall we…?
- AHey! Have you booked the restaurant yet?
- B_______________
- AAmazing. And have you told everyone the time?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Drill the position of the adverb relentlessly — that's the #1 student error. ~28 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write a 10-line to-do list — half ticked ('already done'), half not ('haven't yet'). Read it out loud as full sentences.
Send a real WhatsApp to an English-speaking friend using 'just', 'already' and 'yet'.
Watch 5 mins of a daily-vlog YouTube video; count 'already / just / yet' usage.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- ALREADY = happened sooner than expected (between have & verb).
- YET = expected but not done (end of negatives & questions).
- JUST = a few minutes ago (between have & verb).
- Stress the adverb — it's the new information.
- Always contract: I've / she's / they've.