Already, Yet& Just
Present Perfect adverbs for recent events
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Name 2 things you've already done today and 2 things you haven't done yet.
Share 3 pieces of news starting with 'I've just…'.
What are you still waiting for that you expected days ago?
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minalready / yet / just / still + Present Perfect
ALREADY = sooner than expected (positive) — placed BEFORE the past participle: 'I have already eaten.' Or at the END for emphasis: 'I've finished already.' YET = at this moment (negative + question) — placed at the END: 'I haven't eaten yet.' / 'Have you eaten yet?' JUST = very recently — BEFORE the participle: 'I've just arrived.' STILL = continuing (negative) — BEFORE 'haven't': 'I still haven't replied.' These adverbs are the difference between 'life experience' Present Perfect and 'recent current' Present Perfect.
→ I've already finished my homework.
→ We haven't paid the bill yet.
→ She has just left — you missed her by a minute.
→ He still hasn't called me back.
Question 1.I've ____ ____ lunch.
Question 2.Have you finished ____?
Question 3.She's ____ ____ — she'll text you back in a sec.
Question 4.He ____ ____ replied to my email.
Question 5.I've ____ seen that film twice this week.
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.
Quick check 1.Position of 'already'?
Quick check 2.Position of 'yet'?
Quick check 3.'Just' goes where?
Quick check 4.'Still' + negative: ____ + haven't.
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
well organised, in control
"I'm on top of things this week."
Are you on top of things today?
to fall behind
be late with work/tasks
"I've fallen behind on emails again."
What have you fallen behind on?
to catch up
do what you missed
"I need to catch up on sleep."
What do you need to catch up on?
to be snowed under
extremely busy
"I'm snowed under at work."
When were you last snowed under?
to tick off the list
complete a task
"I've ticked off three things already this morning."
What have you ticked off today?
to be all over it
fully on top of something
"Don't worry — I'm all over it."
What are you all over right now?
to procrastinate
delay doing things
"I keep procrastinating on the gym."
What do you procrastinate on?
a quick win
small easy success
"Replying to that email was a quick win."
Name a quick win you've had today.
Discuss with a partner
- →Are you on top of things or snowed under this week?
- →Two quick wins you've had today.
Finish the sentence about you
- I've already ticked off… …
- I haven't … yet, but… …
- I've just managed to… …
60-second write
Write 4 sentences about your current week using already, yet, just and still.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minStress on the adverb, NOT the auxiliary
- • I've alREAdy finished. (faster than expected)
- • She's JUST left.
- • I HAven't seen it YET.
- • He STILL HAsn't replied.
How to say it
These adverbs carry the meaning, so they take the stress. 'I've alREAdy eaten.' 'I've JUST arrived.' 'I HAven't called yet.' Listeners need to hear 'already' clearly — it's the difference between done and not done.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minMonday morning update
It's 11 a.m. and I've already had three coffees — never a good sign. I've just sent the weekly report (early for once) and ticked off two quick wins from my list. But the bigger tasks? I haven't touched them yet. I still haven't replied to the email from Friday — I know, I know. My inbox is honestly a nightmare; I've fallen behind on at least 30 messages. The good news: I've just booked Friday off, so by Thursday I should be on top of things again. The bad news: my colleague has just texted to say she's snowed under and needs my help by 3. I haven't even started lunch yet. Mondays.
Question 1.How many coffees has the writer had?
Question 2.What is still unanswered?
Question 3.Why is Friday booked off?
Q1.The writer has finished the weekly report.
Q2.Inbox is fully managed.
Q3.A colleague has asked for help.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minQuick catch-up between two colleagues
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Joy:Hey, have you sent the proposal yet?
Ben:Yes — I've just sent it. You should have it in your inbox.
Joy:Great. Have you heard back from the client?
Ben:Not yet. They still haven't replied to my last three emails.
Joy:Annoying. I've already drafted the follow-up — want to see it?
Ben:Yeah send it over. I'm snowed under but I'll have a look.
Joy:Are you on top of the meeting prep too?
Ben:Almost. I've ticked off the slides. Haven't done the speaker notes yet.
Question 1.Has Ben sent the proposal?
Question 2.Has the client replied?
Question 3.What hasn't Ben done?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Writing Part 1 (short message)
Task
Write a 50-word message to a friend explaining what you've done today and what you still need to do.
Strategy
Pack the message with adverbs — already, yet, just, still are exactly what examiners want to see used naturally. Open with a positive (I've already…), add a recent action (I've just…), close with what's pending (still haven't / yet).
Example
Hey! Crazy day. I've already finished the report and just sent it to the boss. Quick win! I haven't had lunch yet and I still haven't called Mum back. I'm so snowed under. Drinks tonight to celebrate surviving Monday?
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.I've ____ ____ my coffee.
Question 2.Have you done your homework ____?
Question 3.I've ____ ____ from her — she's fine.
Question 4.He ____ ____ paid me back.
Question 5.I'm ____ ____ at work.
Q1.Sooner than expected: 'I / finish / book' →
Q2.Negative + 'yet': 'we / pay / bill' →
Q3.Use 'just': 'she / arrive' →
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 120-word voice-note transcript updating a friend on your day. Use already, yet, just and still at least once each, plus 2 vocab phrases.
Show model answer
Hey! Quick voice note — I've literally just had a coffee and figured I'd update you. So, I've already finished the morning meeting and ticked off three quick wins from my list. Honestly, I'm kind of on top of things today, which is rare. BUT — I still haven't replied to Mum's voice note from yesterday (worst daughter award), and I haven't started dinner prep yet. My boss has just told me Friday's deadline got moved to Wednesday, so now I'm a bit snowed under. I've already cancelled the gym. I'll catch up properly with you this weekend — drinks? Let me know! I've just realised I've been talking for nearly two minutes, sorry. Speak soon!
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
DAILY CHECK-IN · Pairs. Each partner gives a 60-second update on their week using at least 4 of the adverbs (already, yet, just, still). Listener counts adverbs used and asks 2 follow-up questions.
Useful phrases
- • I've already…
- • I haven't … yet.
- • I've just…
- • I still haven't…
- • I'm snowed under.
- • Quick win — I've ticked off…
- AHave you finished the report yet?
- B_______________
- AHas Pat replied?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Recycle into authentic 'update' speech, not isolated drills. ~26 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write 8 sentences about today — 2 with already, 2 with yet, 2 with just, 2 with still.
Record a 90-second voice note updating a friend with at least 5 adverbs.
Read a short news article; highlight every Present Perfect with an adverb.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- already = sooner than expected (mid-position).
- yet = at this moment (end of sentence, negative/question).
- just = very recently (mid-position).
- still + negative = surprising delay.
- Stress the adverb, not the auxiliary.