Present Perfect: Just, Already, Yet (Acabar de, Ya, Todavía)
ayudantes para conectar acciones pasadas con el presente, mostrando cuándo y qué esperas.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use these three words to show exactly when an action happened relative to now.
- Use 'just' for very recent actions: 'I have just finished.'
- Use 'already' for actions happening sooner than expected: 'She has already left.'
- Use 'yet' for expected actions in negatives/questions: 'Have you eaten yet?'
Overview
I've just walked in? ¿O tal vez estás revisando tu app de entregas y ves Your food has already been picked up? Esta parte específica de la gramática del inglés trata sobre el puente entre el pasado y el ahora mismo.already, yet, y just, le damos a esas acciones una 'vibra' o temporalidad específica. Estas tres palabritas son como los filtros en tus fotos de Instagram.Just nos dice que la acción ocurrió hace unos segundos o minutos. Es la versión del pasado 'recién salida del horno'. Already implica que algo pasó antes de lo que pensábamos.Yet es para las cosas que todavía estamos esperando. Es la palabra de la 'paciencia'.yet, todavía estás en medio de ese proceso.already seen the finale," sabes que debes dejar de hablar inmediatamente.How This Grammar Works
already, yet, y just en la mezcla, nos estamos enfocando en el *tiempo* de ese resultado.Just se usa para eventos muy recientes. Imagina que estás en un café. Ves a tu amigo. Dices, "I've just ordered." Esto significa que el barista probablemente todavía está preparando la bebida. Es tan fresco que el pasado está básicamente tocando el presente.Already trata sobre sorpresa o eficiencia. Si le dices a tu compañero de cuarto, "I've already cleaned the kitchen," podrías estar presumiendo un poco. Lo hiciste antes de lo que esperaban. Muestra que tienes todo bajo control. A menudo se usa en oraciones positivas.Yet es el más único de los tres. Lo usamos cuando esperamos que algo suceda en el futuro. Es casi exclusivamente para oraciones negativas y preguntas.Have you finished the game yet? asumes que *sí* lo terminarán eventualmente. Solo estás revisando el estado. Es como la barra de carga en un video.yet, pero está llegando.
Formation Pattern
have o has, y el past participle (la forma V3 del verbo).
Just and Already: Estos dos viven en el 'medio' de la oración. Se sientan entre el verbo auxiliar y el verbo principal.
have/has + just/already + past participle.
I have just seen him.
Yet: Este es un poco solitario. Usualmente va al final de la oración.
haven't/hasn't + past participle + yet.
Have/Has + sujeto + past participle + yet?
yet."
Conjugation Table
| Forma | Ejemplo | Traducción |
|---|---|---|
Positivo con Just |
I've just eaten |
Acabo de comer (recientemente) |
Positivo con Already |
She's already left |
Ella se fue (antes de lo esperado) |
Negativo con Yet |
We haven't started yet |
No empezamos (pero lo haremos pronto) |
Pregunta con Yet |
Have you finished yet? |
¿Terminaste (como se esperaba)? |
When To Use It
just cuando las noticias son de última hora. Piensa en un presentador de noticias reportando una historia. The president has just arrived. O cuando just terminaste un entrenamiento y tu cara todavía está roja. Es para ese sentimiento inmediato.already cuando quieras enfatizar que algo está hecho. Es genial para contextos laborales. "I've already sent that email, Boss." También puede expresar molestia.already told you three times!" Es para cuando la línea de tiempo se mueve más rápido que la persona con la que estás hablando.yet para tareas pendientes. Es perfecto para viajar. Are we there yet? es la frase clásica de la infancia. Es para cualquier cosa que está en tu lista de 'cosas por hacer' pero no está marcada. Si no has visto la nueva película de Marvel yet, todavía estás planeando verla.Politeness Levels
En inglés, estos términos no cambian mucho según la formalidad, pero la *posición* sí puede.
- Casual
You finished yet? (Omitir el 'have' es común al enviar mensajes de texto).
- Neutral
Have you finished yet? (Estándar para amigos y colegas).
- Formal
Has the report been completed as of yet? (Añadir 'as of' hace que suene muy profesional y un poco rígido).
Common Mistakes
yet en oraciones positivas. No puedes decir I have finished yet. Eso suena a que estás tratando de usar un código de trampa que no existe. Siempre apégate a negativos y preguntas para yet.already. Aunque puedes ponerlo al final para dar énfasis ("I've finished already!), ponerlo al principio (Already I have finished") suena como una imitación de Yoda. Mantenlo entre el auxiliar y el verbo principal por seguridad.I just saw him está bien en inglés americano, pero en inglés británico y en los exámenes, "I've just seen him" es el estándar de oro. No dejes que el 've' se pierda en el correo.
Memory Trick
Piensa en un Semáforo:
- Verde (Already): La luz se puso verde antes de lo que esperabas. ¡Ve! Algo está hecho.
- Amarillo (Just): La luz just cambió. Está pasando ahora mismo. ¡Sé rápido!
- Rojo (Yet): La luz todavía está roja. Estás esperando. No se ha puesto verde yet.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
¿Cómo es esto diferente del Past Simple? El Past Simple es un libro cerrado.
I ate lunch at 12:00.Es un hecho. El Present Perfect con estos adverbios es una conversación abierta. "I've
just eaten lunch. Esto implica Entonces no tengo hambre ahora". Conecta la acción pasada con la situación actual de tu estómago.
Comparado con el Present Continuous (I am eating), el Present Perfect con just significa que la acción *terminó*. Ya no estás masticando, te estás limpiando la boca.
Real Conversations
Hablante A: Have you booked the flights yet?
Hablante B: I've just done it! I'm looking at the confirmation right now.
Hablante A: Do you want to watch the new season?
Hablante B: No thanks, I've already binged the whole thing. It's so good.
Progressive Practice
Identifica el 'estado' de la acción. ¿Está hecha temprano, hecha recientemente, o esperando?
Elige tu adverbio: already, just, o yet.
Construye el núcleo: Have/Has + Past Participle.
Inserta el adverbio en el lugar correcto (medio o final).
Quick FAQ
P: ¿Puedo usar already en una pregunta?
R: ¡Sí! Muestra sorpresa. "Have you finished already? Wow, you're fast!"
P: ¿Es just lo mismo que recently?
R: Mayormente, pero just es mucho más inmediato. Recently podría significar la semana pasada. Just usualmente significa hace unos minutos.
P: ¿Por qué los estadounidenses dicen
I already did iten lugar de "I've already done it"?
R: El inglés americano a menudo usa el Past Simple para estos escenarios. Ambos se entienden, pero para estudiantes B1, el Present Perfect es usualmente el enfoque de la lección.
Placement of Adverbs in Present Perfect
| Adverb | Sentence Type | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Just
|
Affirmative
|
Between have/has and V3
|
I have just left.
|
|
Already
|
Affirmative
|
Between have/has and V3
|
She has already eaten.
|
|
Already
|
Question (Surprise)
|
End of sentence
|
Are you back already?
|
|
Yet
|
Negative
|
End of sentence
|
They haven't arrived yet.
|
|
Yet
|
Question
|
End of sentence
|
Has he called yet?
|
Common Contractions with Adverbs
| Full Form | Contraction | With Adverb |
|---|---|---|
|
I have just
|
I've just
|
I've just seen him.
|
|
He has already
|
He's already
|
He's already left.
|
|
We have not... yet
|
We haven't... yet
|
We haven't started yet.
|
|
It has not... yet
|
It hasn't... yet
|
It hasn't rained yet.
|
Meanings
These adverbs modify the Present Perfect to indicate the recency, timing, or expectation of an action connecting the past to the present.
Just: Very Recent Past
Indicates that an action happened a very short time ago.
“The taxi has just arrived outside.”
“I've just heard the news!”
Already: Sooner Than Expected
Indicates that something happened before the present time or sooner than someone thought it would.
“I've already done my homework.”
“Has the train already left?”
Yet: Expectation of Completion
Used in negative sentences and questions to talk about something that hasn't happened but is expected to happen soon.
“I haven't finished the report yet.”
“Has the mail arrived yet?”
Reference Table
| Adverbio | Significado | Tipo de Oración | Posición |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Just
|
Muy recientemente
|
Positiva
|
Entre 'have/has' y el verbo
|
|
Already
|
Antes de lo esperado
|
Positiva / Preguntas
|
Entre 'have/has' y el verbo
|
|
Yet
|
Hasta ahora (esperado)
|
Negativa / Preguntas
|
Final de la oración
|
|
Still
|
Continuando (más de lo esperado)
|
Negativa / Positiva
|
Antes de 'have/has'
|
Espectro de formalidad
Have you completed the assignment yet? (Work/School)
Have you finished your work yet? (Work/School)
Done yet? (Work/School)
You through with that yet? (Work/School)
Adverbios de Presente Perfecto
Inmediato
- Just Muy recientemente
Sorpresa
- Already Antes de lo esperado
Expectativa
- Yet Esperándolo
Posiciones de los Adverbios
¿Cuál debo usar?
¿Es la oración negativa o una pregunta?
¿Pasó hace 1-5 minutos?
Categorías de Uso
Velocidad
- • Already
- • Rápido
- • Terminado
Reciente
- • Just
- • Ahora
- • Fresco
Esperando
- • Yet
- • Negativo
- • Futuro
Ejemplos por nivel
I have just eaten.
I have just eaten.
She has already gone.
She has already gone.
I haven't finished yet.
I haven't finished yet.
Have you seen it yet?
Have you seen it yet?
We've just arrived at the station.
We've just arrived at the station.
He's already bought the tickets.
He's already bought the tickets.
They haven't called us yet.
They haven't called us yet.
Has the movie started yet?
Has the movie started yet?
I have just finished the report you asked for.
I have just finished the report you asked for.
Don't worry, I've already paid the bill.
Don't worry, I've already paid the bill.
We haven't decided where to go on holiday yet.
We haven't decided where to go on holiday yet.
Have you spoken to the manager about the problem yet?
Have you spoken to the manager about the problem yet?
The CEO has just announced his resignation.
The CEO has just announced his resignation.
You've finished that book already? You only started it this morning!
You've finished that book already? You only started it this morning!
The scientific community hasn't reached a consensus yet.
The scientific community hasn't reached a consensus yet.
Have the results of the experiment been published yet?
Have the results of the experiment been published yet?
I've just been contemplating the implications of your theory.
I've just been contemplating the implications of your theory.
The government has already implemented several measures to curb inflation.
The government has already implemented several measures to curb inflation.
We have yet to see any tangible evidence of improvement.
We have yet to see any tangible evidence of improvement.
Has the board of directors reached a final decision yet?
Has the board of directors reached a final decision yet?
The witness has just provided a testimony that could jeopardize the entire case.
The witness has just provided a testimony that could jeopardize the entire case.
By the time we arrived, the situation had already deteriorated beyond repair.
By the time we arrived, the situation had already deteriorated beyond repair.
The full extent of the damage has yet to be determined by the authorities.
The full extent of the damage has yet to be determined by the authorities.
Have you not already considered the potential fallout of such a move?
Have you not already considered the potential fallout of such a move?
Fácil de confundir
Both refer to things that haven't happened, but 'still' emphasizes the duration and 'yet' emphasizes the expectation.
'Just' is used with Present Perfect; 'just now' is usually used with Simple Past.
'Already' is the time adverb; 'all ready' means everyone is prepared.
Errores comunes
I have finished yet.
I have already finished.
I just have eaten.
I have just eaten.
Have you yet eaten?
Have you eaten yet?
I haven't already seen it.
I haven't seen it yet.
She has yet finished.
She has already finished.
I've already did it.
I've already done it.
Has he just left yet?
Has he just left?
I already have been there.
I have already been there.
I haven't seen him just.
I haven't seen him recently / I just saw him.
Did you finish yet?
Have you finished yet?
We haven't yet to receive it.
We have yet to receive it.
Patrones de oraciones
I have just ___.
Has ___ ___ yet?
We've already ___ but we haven't ___ yet.
You've ___ already?!
Real World Usage
I've just left! Be there in 5.
I have already managed several projects similar to this one.
Has our food been prepared yet?
Can't believe I've just hit 1,000 followers!
The gate hasn't opened yet.
Have you taken your medicine yet?
La Conexión 'V3'
Nada de 'Already' en Negativas
'Already' para Sorprender
Have you done all your homework already?!¡Qué crack!
Smart Tips
Add 'yet' to the end of your negative sentence.
Put 'already' at the end of a question and use a rising tone.
Use 'have yet to' instead of 'haven't ... yet'.
Think of it as a sandwich filling between 'have' and the verb.
Pronunciación
Contraction Stress
In 'I've just', the 've' is very soft, almost silent. The stress is on 'just'.
Yet Intonation
In questions, 'yet' usually has a rising intonation.
Surprise with Already
You've finished ALREADY? ↗
Expresses shock that something happened so fast.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
J.A.Y. helps you play: Just (recent), Already (early), Yet (waiting).
Asociación visual
Imagine a 'Just' clock with the hand only 1 minute past the hour, an 'Already' runner crossing the finish line while others are far behind, and a 'Yet' person looking at their watch waiting for a bus.
Rhyme
Just is near, Already is done, Yet is waiting for the fun.
Story
I have just woken up. I have already brushed my teeth, but I haven't had breakfast yet.
Word Web
Desafío
Write three sentences about your morning using one 'just', one 'already', and one 'yet'.
Notas culturales
BrE speakers are very strict about using the Present Perfect with 'just', 'already', and 'yet'. Using Simple Past sounds 'American' or incorrect to them.
AmE speakers frequently use the Simple Past with these adverbs, especially in casual speech.
Using 'already' can signal proactivity and efficiency in a professional setting.
The Present Perfect evolved in Germanic languages to express a state resulting from a past action. Adverbs like 'already' (all + ready) and 'yet' (Old English 'giet') were added to refine the temporal focus.
Inicios de conversación
Have you seen any good movies yet this year?
What's something you've already achieved today?
Have you just started learning English, or have you been studying for a while?
Is there a country you haven't visited yet but really want to?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
I'm not hungry. I've ___ eaten a big burger.
Elige la oración gramaticalmente correcta:
Find and fix the mistake:
He has yet called me.
Score: /3
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesI'm not hungry. I have ___ eaten lunch.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Has the mail already arrived yet?
I finished my homework ten minutes ago. (Use Present Perfect + already)
A: Do you want to watch 'Inception'? B: No, I've ___ seen it three times!
Gap filler
'Just' can be used in negative sentences to mean 'not recently'.
Functions
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesalready / I / seen / have / film / that
¿Ya has enviado el correo? (Usa 'yet')
The taxi is outside! It has ___ arrived.
Une los términos
Don't tell me the score! I haven't watched the match ___.
We yet haven't decided where to go.
delivered / yet / your / package / been / has / ?
Wait, you've ___ finished the whole pizza?
Acabamos de empezar.
A: Is John here? B: No, he hasn't arrived ___.
Score: /10
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
Generally, no. In standard English, `yet` is for negatives and questions. However, in very formal English, you can say `I have yet to finish`, which means `I haven't finished yet`.
`Just` usually means a few minutes or seconds ago. `Recently` can mean days or weeks ago.
It usually goes between `have/has` and the `past participle`. For example: `I have already seen it`. You can also put it at the end for emphasis: `I've seen it already!`
In American English, yes, it's very common. In British English or on English exams (like IELTS/TOEFL), you should use the Present Perfect: `Have you done it yet?`.
Yes! Use it when you are surprised. `Have you finished already?` means `Wow, that was fast!`
It's a convention of English word order for this specific adverb. It helps the listener identify the sentence as a question or a negative expectation.
Yes, especially in American English. `I just saw him` is perfectly fine in the US, while a Brit might prefer `I have just seen him`.
It is a formal way to say that something hasn't happened. `The company has yet to decide` means `The company hasn't decided yet`.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ya / todavía
Spanish 'ya' is much more flexible in position than English 'already'.
déjà / pas encore
French uses 'venir de' + infinitive for 'just' instead of an adverb.
schon / noch nicht
German word order is more rigid regarding the 'V2' rule.
mou / mada
Japanese doesn't have a direct equivalent for 'just' as an adverb in the same way; it uses verb endings like '-ta bakari'.
qad / lamma
The concept of 'just' is often expressed through specific verbs or time phrases.
yǐjīng / hái méiyǒu
Chinese has no verb conjugation, so the 'tense' is entirely dependent on these particles.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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