yet, already

ScottsEnglish

The usage of yet and already

"Yet" and "already" are two words that we usually use with the present perfect tense, which by itself is complicated. 

However, they have their own particular places in a sentence.

For example, "Have you been to the store yet?" or "I have not yet seen the movie, but I am going to to do so."
And, "The chicken looks good, but I have already eaten."

Notice that "yet" is used for questions or in negative answers, while "already" is mostly used in positive sentences.

In spoken English, you may hear, "Have you already been to the store?" if there is evidence that the person has been, for example, bringing in the groceries. But if there is no evidence, the correct question is, "Have you been to the store yet?

Put the correct word in the following sentences.

1. I have not ______________ found the answer.
2. Thank you, but I have ______________ bought a shirt for the party.
3. Has she seen the last episode in the series ___________?
4. That is good software, but I have _______________ bought something else to do the job.
5. Has he stopped smoking _________________? He promised to do so this summer.

Click here for the correct answers.

1. I have not yet found the answer.
2. Thank you, but I have already bought a shirt for the party.
3. Has she seen the last episode in the series yet?
4. That is good software, but I have already bought something else to do the job.
5. Has he stopped smoking yet? He promised to do so this summer.