viernes, 4 de julio de 2008

Present Perfect (3)

1.- We use Just with the Present Perfect to talk about things that happened a short time before now:

Have + just + Past Participle

It has just finished

Could I speak to Jane, please? - I'm afraid
She has just left.
(= She left a short time ago)

Is that a good book? - I've just started it
(= I started it a short time before now.)


2.- Look at this example with already:

Do you want something to eat? - No thanks, I've already eaten
(= I ate before now.)

We use already with the Present Perfect to emphasize that something happened before
now, or before it was expected to happen. we use already like this:

Have + already + Past Participle
I've already heard that story.


Here is another example:

Nicola: Is Sarah going to phone you later?
Robert: No. She's (= She has) already phoned me.
(= Sarah phoned before Nicola expected her to phone.)


3.- We use yet with a negative verb to say that something has not happened, but we think that it will happen:

I haven't escaped yet.

The post hasn't arrived yet.
(= The post has not arrived, but it probably will arrive.)

I haven't finished this work yet.
(= I haven't finished this work, but I will finish it.)

They haven't replied to my letter yet.


We use yet in questions to ask whether something that we expect to happen has happened:

Have you paid the bill yet?
(= Perhaps you have not paid the bill, but you are going to pay it soon.)

Has it stopped raining yet?
(= Perhaps is has not stopped raining, but it will stop raining soon.)

Have you found a job yet?


Notice that we usually put yet at the end of a negative statement or question:

They haven't replied to my letter yet. Have you found a job yet?