ISUS - Grammar Wiki

The Present Perfect – Time Expressions

We can use for and since with the Present Perfect Simple and Continuous.

We use for to talk about periods of time.

I have lived here for three years.

I have been waiting for two hours.

We use since when we mention the point in time when an action starts.

I have lived here since 2007.

I have been staying here since Monday.

We usually use already, just and yet with the Present Perfect Simple.

We use already to talk about actions that have been completed before we speak.

I have already had lunch. (I had lunch before now).

We usually only use already in affirmative sentences and questions.

We use yet to talk about actions that we expect to happen but haven’t happened before we speak.

I haven’t had lunch yet. (But I will soon)

We usually only use yet in negative sentences and questions.

We use just to talk about actions that have happened recently.

I have just had lunch. (I had lunch recently)

We usually only use just in positive sentences and questions.

Click on the links below to learn more about the Present Tenses