Present Perfect: With YET and ALREADY

1 The Big Idea

Done Already, Not Done Yet

📘 Level 2 — Present Perfect — Lesson 6

Already and yet go with the Present Perfect. Both talk about something you expect.

Already means it is done. Often it happened earlier than you thought.

Yet means it is not done, but you expect it to happen. Use yet in negatives and questions.

She has already left. (She left earlier than I thought.)
She hasn't left yet. (I expect her to leave.)

2 ALREADY

Done, Often Earlier Than Expected

Already goes between have/has and the past participle.

Subject + have/has + already + past participle

He has already read the whole book. He started this morning! (faster than expected)
Don't buy milk. I have already bought some. (done before you asked)
I have already told you three times. Listen to me!
The kids have already finished their homework. (so soon!)

You can also use already in questions to show surprise:

Have you already finished? (I did not expect it so soon!)
Has she already arrived? (I thought she was still on her way.)
Have they already decided? (The meeting only started!)

3 YET

Not Done, but Expected

Yet goes at the end of the sentence. Use it in negatives and questions.

Negative: Subject + haven't/hasn't + past participle + yet
Question: Have/Has + subject + past participle + yet?

I haven't seen that movie yet. (I plan to see it.)
She hasn't written back yet. (I expected a reply by now.)
They haven't shown the results yet. (We are still waiting.)
Have you paid the bill yet? (Maybe you did it by now.)
Has the plane landed yet? (I am waiting for it.)

4 ALREADY vs YET

Side by Side

	ALREADY	YET
Meaning	It is done (often sooner than expected)	It is not done, but you expect it
Used in	Positive sentences and surprise questions	Negatives and questions
Position	Between have/has and the past participle	At the end of the sentence
Example	He has already called.	He hasn't called yet.
Question	Has he already called? (surprise)	Has he called yet? (checking)

5 Common Mistakes

Watch Out For These

❌ Mistake 1 — YET in a positive sentence

✗ She has yet packed.

✗ I have yet closed the window.

✗ He has yet cooked dinner.

✓ She has already packed.

✓ I have already closed the window.

✓ He has already cooked dinner.

Do not use yet in a positive sentence. Use already.

❌ Mistake 2 — STILL at the end, instead of YET

✗ She hasn't won still.

✗ I haven't opened it still.

✓ She still hasn't won.

✓ I still haven't opened it.

✓ She hasn't won yet.

✓ I haven't opened it yet.

Still goes before hasn't/haven't. Yet goes at the end. Do not put still at the end.

❌ Mistake 3 — Past Simple with YET or ALREADY

✗ Did you visit yet?

✗ She already cleaned the kitchen.

✗ I didn't fix it yet.

✓ Have you visited yet?

✓ She has already cleaned the kitchen.

✓ I haven't fixed it yet.

In this course, use the Present Perfect with yet and already. Many Americans use the Past Simple in casual speech ("Did you eat yet?"). The Present Perfect is correct everywhere, so learn it first.

6 Practice

Try It Yourself

Exercise A — ALREADY, or YET?

Read each situation. Click "Already" if it describes something happening sooner than expected, or "Yet" if it describes something expected that hasn't happened.

1

Maria thought the report would take all week. It's only Tuesday, and it's finished.

✓ Correct — the report is done much sooner than she expected.
2

Tom was supposed to call an hour ago. His phone still hasn't rung.

✓ Correct — the expected call hasn't happened.
3

Ana keeps checking the mailbox for a package that should have come by now.

✓ Correct — the expected package hasn't arrived.
4

The teacher looks surprised — most students take much longer to finish this test.

✓ Correct — this student finished faster than expected.
5

The plumber said the repair would take all afternoon, but he's packing up his tools now.

✓ Correct — the repair is done much sooner than promised.
6

Everyone is still standing by the door for the taxi that was booked ten minutes ago.

✓ Correct — the expected taxi hasn't come.
7

Ben's boss expected the proposal by Friday, but he handed it in this morning — three days early.

✓ Correct — the proposal came in sooner than expected.
8

The class is sitting quietly, still looking at the same page — nobody has raised a hand with the answer.

✓ Correct — the expected answer hasn't come.

Exercise B — ALREADY, Affirmative

Type the correct form. Put "already" after have/has.

1

She her whole paycheck. (spend)
2

He her name. (forget)
3

I your brother. (meet)
4

They into the new house. (move)
5

We a name for the baby. (choose)
6

She two plates today. (break)
7

He to swim. (learn)
8

I the ending. (guess)

Exercise C — Correct or Incorrect?

Click your answer for each sentence.

1

She has already retired.

✓ Correct — "already" is correctly placed between "has" and "retired."
2

He has yet arrived.

✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. "Yet" does not go in a positive sentence: "He has already arrived."
3

I haven't tried that yet.

✓ Correct — "yet" is correctly placed at the end.
4

Did she leave already?

✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. It needs the Present Perfect: "Has she already left?"
5

They have finish it already.

✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. It needs the past participle: "have finished."
6

We still haven't decided.

✓ Correct — "still" is correctly placed before the auxiliary.
7

Has he already paid?

✓ Correct — "already" is correctly placed in this surprise question.
8

She hasn't built it still.

✓ Correct — This sentence is wrong. "Still" never goes at the end: "She still hasn't built it."

Exercise D — YET, Negatives

Type the negative verb phrase. Use the contracted negative (haven't/hasn't).

1

He the car yet. (repair)
2

I my keys yet. (find)
3

She back the book yet. (give)
4

They the house yet. (sell)
5

We the news yet. (hear)
6

He a color yet. (pick)
7

I the plants yet. (water)
8

She the form yet. (send)

Exercise E — YET, Questions

Type the opening question phrase.

1

your bags yet? (you / pack)
2

the doctor yet? (he / call)
3

the store yet? (they / open)
4

her room yet? (she / clean)
5

the museum yet? (you / visit)
6

the car yet? (she / wash)
7

the dog yet? (you / walk)
8

yet? (she / wake up)

7 Choose the Right Sentence

Apply What You Know

Read each question. Choose the sentence that matches.

Question 1 of 8

Select the correctly formed sentence with ALREADY.

A is correct. "Already" goes between "has" and the past participle.

Question 2 of 8

Select the sentence that uses YET incorrectly.

D is correct — this is the wrong one. "Yet" does not go in a positive sentence. It should be "He has already finished."

Question 3 of 8

Select the correctly formed sentence with STILL.

C is correct. "Still" goes before "hasn't." Do not put it at the end.

Question 4 of 8

Select the sentence that incorrectly uses the Past Simple instead of the Present Perfect.

B is correct — this is the wrong one. In this course, "yet" goes with the Present Perfect: "Have you finished yet?"

Question 5 of 8

Select the correctly formed question.

A is correct. "Have" goes before the subject. "Already" goes before the past participle.

Question 6 of 8

Select the sentence that is missing the auxiliary verb.

D is correct — this is the wrong one. It's missing "have": "We have already fixed it."

Question 7 of 8

Select the sentence with the correct past participle.

B is correct. The past participle of "write" is "written." "Wrote" is the Past Simple. "Write" is the base form. "Writing" is the -ing form.

Question 8 of 8

Select the correctly formed negative sentence with YET.

C is correct. "Shown" is the past participle, and "yet" goes at the end.

8 Summary

Present Perfect: With YET and ALREADY ALREADY means it is done, often sooner than expected. YET means it is not done, but you expect it.

Already: have/has + already + past participle. Use it in positive sentences and surprise questions.
Yet: haven't/hasn't + past participle + yet. Use it in negatives and questions, never in a positive sentence.
Still goes before hasn't/haven't. Yet goes at the end.
In this course, use the Present Perfect with both words.

✓ Mark this lesson complete

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