just / already / yet / still

Rules

• Rule 1: just = a moment ago

  just goes between have / has and the past participle.

  Pattern: have / has + just + past participle

  Example: The phone has just rung.

  Example: We've just arrived.

• Rule 2: already = sooner than expected

  If something happened before now or earlier than expected, use already. It also goes between have / has and the past participle.

  Pattern: have / has + already + past participle

  Example: I've already done my homework.

  Example: She's already left.

• Rule 3: yet = up to now

  yet is used only in negatives and questions, at the end of the sentence.

  Pattern: haven't + past participle … yet / Have … yet?

  Example: I haven't met him yet.

  Example: Have you read it yet?

• Rule 4: still = it continues

  When something we expected hasn't happened: still + haven't / hasn't. We also use still for situations that continue.

  Pattern: still + haven't / hasn't + past participle

  Example: I still haven't finished my puzzle.

  Example: She's still asleep.

Common mistakes

• I have finished yet my homework. → I haven't finished my homework yet.

  yet is for negatives/questions, at the end.

• I've eaten already just. → I've just eaten.

  just goes between have and the past participle.

• I haven't still found it. → I still haven't found it.

  still goes before haven't.