Present perfect - I've just, I've already, I haven't...yet

The present perfect (have/has + past participle) links past actions or events to the present. We use it to talk about recent actions, experiences, completed actions with relevance now, or actions that are not finished yet.

• Structure: subject + have/has + past participle (e.g., I have finished).
• 'just' = very recent action (I’ve just sent it).
• 'already' = action happened earlier than expected (I’ve already checked).
• 'yet' = used in negatives/questions to mean 'up to now' (I haven’t finished yet / Have you finished yet?).

Remember the formation and where to put 'just', 'already', and 'yet'.

• Form: have/has + past participle (e.g., She has signed).
• 'just' and 'already' usually go between auxiliary and past participle: I have just/already sent it.
• 'yet' is typically placed at the end in negatives and questions: I haven't finished yet. / Have you finished yet?
• In formal writing you can put 'already' after the past participle, but between auxiliary and participle is more common.

Think: auxiliary (have/has) — adverb (just/already) — past participle; 'yet' often at the end.

Watch out for frequent errors learners make with the present perfect and these adverbs.

• Using simple past when the action has present relevance (Wrong: I already saw the report. → Better: I have already seen the report).
• Incorrect placement of 'just'/'already' (Wrong: I just have finished. → Correct: I have just finished).
• Putting 'yet' in affirmative statements to mean 'already' (Wrong: I have finished yet. → Correct: I have finished already / I have already finished).
• Forgetting the past participle form after have/has (Wrong: She has went. → Correct: She has gone).
• Using present perfect with a finished past time expression (Wrong: I have finished yesterday. → Correct: I finished yesterday / I have finished (if no time mentioned)).

Check auxiliary + past participle and adverb placement.