English · B1 · grammar · 5 minutes
Since, for, already, yet, and just
Place common present-perfect time words according to meaning and information status.
Understand the choice
These small words guide how a past event touches the present. Their position is partly grammatical and partly communicative: already/just usually sit inside the verb phrase, while yet favors the end.
Core rule: Since gives a starting point, for a duration, already an earlier-than-expected result, yet an expected result up to now, and just a very recent event.
Notice it in context
She has already sent the form, but we have not received it yet.
Ella ya ha enviado el formulario, pero todavía no lo hemos recibido.
Already follows has; yet closes a negative clause and signals continuing expectation.
I have lived here for five years, since I started university.
My residence has lasted five years from the point university began.
For measures duration; since introduces origin.
Have they just arrived, or are they still travelling?
Did their arrival happen moments ago, or is the journey continuing?
Just sits between auxiliary and participle.
What to remember
- Since can also introduce a clause: since I moved here.
- Yet commonly occurs in questions and negatives; already is common in affirmative results.
Common trap: Do not use since with a quantity of time: say for three weeks, not since three weeks.