Introduction
Adverbs are expressions that function as modifiers of other elements in the clause. They can provide a wide range of information.
Time adverbs are often used with the present perfect and function as modifiers of other elements in the clause.
Form
The main time adverbs that are used with the present perfect are: already, just, still and yet.
Their positions in sentences are:
- already: Subject + have/has + already + past participle + …
- just: Subject + have/has + just + past participle + …
- still: Subject + have/has + still + past participle + …
- yet: Subject + have/has + past participle + … + yet
NOTE: They can have different positions when they are not used with perfect tenses.
Example
- I have already celebrated my birthday.
- You have already studied for the exam.
- She has just finished training.
- He has just heard the news.
- We still haven’t made any plans for Easter.
- Have you still forgotten that it is my birthday?
- You haven’t met my boyfried yet.
- They haven’t arrived yet.
Use
We use adverbs of time to express when an action happened, for how long and how often. When used with present perfect, they can act as modifiers of other elements in a clause.
The main adverbs of time are:
- already: to say that something has happened early, or earlier than expected;
- just: to express an action that happened at this moment or a short time ago;
- still: express an action that has not finished or has lasted longer than expected;
- yet: to say that something is not happening now, but it will happen in the near future.
Summary
Time adverbs are used to express when an action happened, for how long and how often. When used with present perfect, they can act as modifiers of other elements in a clause.
When we use aready, just and still with present perfect, we start with the subject followed by the auxiliary verb, the time adverb and the past participle.
When we use yet with the present perfect, we start with the subject, followed by the auxiliar verb and the past participle and we place the adverb yet at the end of the sentence.
For example:
— “I have already arrived home.” = The action happened in the past and will not happen again (by now).
— “I have just arrived home.” = The action happened in the near past (shortly before).
— “I still haven’t arrived home.” = The action has not happened and was supposed to happen earlier (up to this time).
— “I haven’t arrived home yet.” = The action has not happened in the past or present because it is going to happen in the near future (until now).
NOTE: Some of the adverbs are only used in negative statements and not in positive ones (and vice versa). Moreover, they can have different positions when they are not used with perfect tenses.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.