Just, Still, Yet and Already: How to Use Them

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Just, still, yet and already are adverbs of time. They tell you when an action happens in relation to now, and they are most common with the present perfect tense. The tricky part is not their meaning but their position in the sentence.

This guide is for B1 to B2 learners who want to use these four adverbs correctly in conversation, emails and exams. By the end you will know what each one means, where it goes in a sentence, the difference between the ones learners mix up (still and yet), and the mistakes to avoid. There are exercises to practice too.

On this page

Quick video summary
What these adverbs do
The four adverbs at a glance
Each adverb in detail
Still vs yet
British and American English
Common mistakes
Practice exercises
FAQ
Key takeaways

A quick video summary

What these adverbs do

Just, still, yet and already are adverbs of time that we use to talk about when an action happens, especially with the present perfect (have or has plus the past participle). They connect the past to now: something has just happened, has already happened, has not happened yet, or is still happening or still not happening.

Because they all relate to timing, learners often choose the wrong one or put it in the wrong place. The sections below give you the meaning, the position and clear examples for each.

Just, still, yet and already at a glance

Adverb	Meaning	Used in	Position	Example
JUST	a short time ago	affirmative	between have/has and the verb	I have just arrived.
ALREADY	before now, sooner than expected	affirmative, questions	between have/has and the verb, or at the end	She has already left.
YET	up to now	negatives, questions	at the end of the sentence	Have you finished yet?
STILL	continuing, has not changed or stopped	affirmative, negatives	before the main verb (before the auxiliary in negatives)	He still hasn’t called.

Knowing the rule is the easy part. Putting these adverbs in the right place without thinking, while you speak, is the hard part. Book a free trial lesson and practice with an experienced native teacher, no credit card needed.

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Each adverb in detail

JUST = a short time ago

have/has + just + past participle

Use just for something that happened very recently. It goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.

I have just finished lunch.
The train has just left.

ALREADY = before now

have/has + already + verb, or at the end

Use already for something that happened before now, often sooner than expected. It works in affirmative sentences and in questions that show surprise.

We have already eaten.
Have you already read it?

YET = up to now

… + yet (end position)

Use yet for something expected that has not happened up to now. It goes at the end and is used in negatives and questions.

I haven’t called her yet.
Has the parcel arrived yet?

STILL = it continues

subject + still + (auxiliary) + verb

Use still for a situation that continues and has not changed or stopped. It comes before the main verb, and before the auxiliary in negatives.

She still lives in Paris.
They still haven’t replied.

Still vs yet: the one learners mix up

Both still and yet talk about something that has not happened, but they are not the same. Yet is neutral and goes at the end. Still comes earlier in the sentence and adds a feeling of surprise or impatience that the thing has not happened after so long.

Sentence	What it suggests
He hasn’t replied yet.	Neutral. You expect a reply at some point.
He still hasn’t replied.	Impatient. It has been a long time and you are surprised.
Are you ready yet?	A simple question about now.
Are you still not ready?	Surprise that the situation has not changed.

A note on British and American English

In British English, just, already and yet are normally used with the present perfect: “I have just eaten,” “Have you finished yet?” In American English, the past simple is also common with these adverbs: “I just ate,” “Did you finish yet?” Both are correct. For exams like IELTS and Cambridge, the present perfect version is the safer choice.

Common mistakes with just, still, yet and already

Putting yet in the middle. Wrong: “I yet haven’t finished.” Right: “I haven’t finished yet.” Yet goes at the end.
Using already in a negative. Wrong: “I haven’t already eaten.” Right: “I haven’t eaten yet.” Use yet in negatives, already in affirmatives.
Putting still after the auxiliary in a negative. Wrong: “She hasn’t still called.” Right: “She still hasn’t called.” Still comes before the auxiliary here.
Putting just in the wrong place. Wrong: “I just have arrived.” Right: “I have just arrived.” Just goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.

Practice exercises on just, still, yet and already

Exercise 1. Match each rule with the correct adverb.

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences by choosing the correct option (yet / already / just / still).

Exercise 3. Decide if the adverb is in the correct position by selecting correct or incorrect.

Quick self-check

Fill each gap with just, still, yet or already, then reveal the answers.

1. Have you finished your report ____? (up to now)
2. I have ____ eaten, so I’m not hungry. (before now)
3. It’s very late and they ____ haven’t arrived. (it continues, with impatience)

Show answers

1. yet. 2. already (or just). 3. still.

How did that feel? Spotting the right adverb in an exercise is one thing. Using it in the right position while you speak, without pausing, is the goal. In a free trial lesson, an experienced native teacher will have you practicing these in real sentences within minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between still and yet?

Both talk about something that has not happened, but yet is neutral and goes at the end of the sentence (“He hasn’t replied yet”), while still comes earlier and adds surprise or impatience that it has not happened after a long time (“He still hasn’t replied”).

What is the difference between already and yet?

Already is used in affirmative sentences and questions to say something happened before now, often sooner than expected (“I have already finished”). Yet is used in negatives and questions for something expected that has not happened up to now (“I haven’t finished yet”).

Where does each adverb go in the sentence?

Just goes between the auxiliary and the main verb (I have just eaten). Already goes between the auxiliary and the verb or at the end (I have already eaten / I have eaten already). Yet goes at the end (I haven’t eaten yet). Still goes before the main verb, and before the auxiliary in negatives (I still haven’t eaten).

Do these adverbs always need the present perfect?

They are most common with the present perfect, especially in British English. In American English the past simple is also used with just, already and yet (I just ate, Did you finish yet?). Still works with many tenses because it describes a situation that continues (She still lives here).

Can already be used in a question?

Yes. Already in a question usually shows surprise that something happened sooner than expected, for example “Have you already finished?” For a neutral question about whether something has happened, use yet: “Have you finished yet?”

Key takeaways

Just, still, yet and already are adverbs of time, most common with the present perfect.
JUST = a short time ago. ALREADY = before now. YET = up to now. STILL = it continues.
Just and already go between the auxiliary and the verb; already can also go at the end.
Yet goes at the end and is used in negatives and questions.
Still comes before the main verb, and before the auxiliary in negatives (She still hasn’t called).

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Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007.