Focus: Present Perfect with just/yet/already/still; Present Perfect for recent news and eventsB125 exercises
📋 Grammar Summary
Structures: Present Perfect — just / yet / already / still (A2_35) • Present Perfect — recent news and events (B1_03)
Key patterns:
have/has + just/already + past participle | have/has + past participle + yet | still + haven't/hasn't + past participle
have/has + past participle (for the news headline) → past simple (for the details)
Common errors addressed: Using 'yet' in affirmative sentences: ✗ I have yet finished → ✓ I have already finished • Using 'already' in negatives: ✗ I haven't already done it → ✓ I haven't done it yet • Placing 'yet' in the middle: ✗ Have you yet confirmed? → ✓ Have you confirmed yet? • Using the wrong 'still' pattern: ✗ I don't still finish → ✓ I still haven't finished • Opening recent news with the past simple: ✗ The company announced record profits → ✓ The company has announced record profits • Continuing with the present perfect for finished details: ✗ She has told the board on Friday → ✓ She told the board on Friday
🎮 Practice Activities
Signal Words and Recent News: Gap Fill
Present Perfect with just/yet/already/still; Present Perfect for recent news and events
Complete each sentence with the correct form. Where you see a base form in brackets, use it to build your answer.
Good news — the team _____ the procurement plan, so we can move forward.
💡 'Already' goes between 'has' and the past participle to show the action is done. 'Has yet signed off on' is wrong — 'yet' cannot be used in affirmative sentences. 'Already signed off on' misses the auxiliary 'has'.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'already' comes between 'has/have' and the past participle, not at the end. In Italian, 'già' is more flexible, but in English the position is fixed.
We _____ the quote from the supplier yet, so we can't confirm the budget.
💡 'Yet' at the end signals an incomplete action in a negative sentence. We need 'haven't received'. 'Haven't already received' is wrong — 'already' is not used in negatives with 'yet'. 'Didn't receive' is past simple, which doesn't fit 'yet' in British English.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: use 'haven't/hasn't + past participle + yet' for negative sentences. Do not use 'already' here.
Have you chased the stakeholder about the availability enquiry _____?
💡 'Yet' goes at the end of questions to ask if something has happened. 'Already' in a question changes the meaning to surprise. 'Just' and 'still' do not fit at the end of a question in this way.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'yet' always goes at the end of questions. Do not place it after 'have/has' at the start.
The project manager _____ the updated shortlist to the client — she did it five minutes ago.
💡 'Just' goes between 'has' and the past participle: 'has just sent'. 'Has sent just' is wrong — 'just' cannot go after the past participle. 'Just sent' (past simple) is not the target form in British English.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: in British English, use 'has/have + just + past participle'. The past simple with 'just' is American English.
We _____ the direct route with the travel team, even though it was due last week.
💡 'Still' goes before 'haven't' to show a strong, emphatic negative: 'still haven't confirmed'. 'Don't still confirm' is wrong — 'still' must go before the negative auxiliary. 'Haven't confirmed still' puts 'still' in the wrong place.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: the pattern is 'still + haven't/hasn't + past participle'. 'Still' comes before the negative auxiliary, not after.
The team has _____ the venue, so that part of the plan is complete.
💡 'Already' goes between 'has' and the past participle in affirmative sentences. 'Yet locked in' is wrong — 'yet' cannot be used in affirmative sentences. The other options mix words incorrectly.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'already' in affirmative sentences always goes between 'has/have' and the past participle.
Has the client confirmed the deal _____? We need an answer before we escalate.
💡 'Yet' goes at the end of a question to ask if something has happened. 'Already' at the end of a question expresses surprise, which doesn't fit here. 'Still' and 'just' don't go at the end of questions in this way.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'yet' at the end of a question is neutral. 'Already' at the end shows surprise — these are different.
Breaking news: the company _____ a major change to its procurement process.
💡 We use the present perfect to introduce recent news. 'Announced' (past simple) is wrong for a breaking news headline in British English. 'Announces' (present simple) does not show the news has just happened.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: in British English, use the present perfect to open a news announcement. The past simple comes later, for the details.
The board _____ the new budget. They made the decision at yesterday's meeting.
💡 The first sentence announces recent news, so we use 'has approved'. The second sentence gives a finished detail with 'yesterday', so past simple is correct there. 'Approved' alone in the first sentence treats it as a simple past fact, not news.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: use the present perfect for the news headline. Use the past simple when you add a specific past detail, like 'yesterday'.
The company has just signed the contract. The CEO _____ the deal at a press conference this morning.
💡 The first sentence announces news with the present perfect. The second sentence gives a finished detail ('this morning'), so we use the past simple: 'confirmed'. 'Has confirmed' is wrong — we switch to past simple for specific past details.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: after you announce news with the present perfect, use the past simple to give the details.
I _____ him lately — do you know if he is still working on the project?
💡 'Lately' requires the present perfect negative: 'haven't seen'. 'Don't see' (present simple) is wrong — 'lately' signals a recent, ongoing period. 'Didn't see' (past simple) refers to a finished time, which doesn't match 'lately'.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'lately' always goes with the present perfect, not the present simple. Do not use 'don't/doesn't' with 'lately'.
The project lead has _____ from her role. She told the team on Monday.
💡 We need 'has + past participle' for the news announcement: 'has stepped down'. 'Step down' (base form) and 'stepping down' are not past participles. 'Steps down' is present simple.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: the present perfect is 'has/have + past participle'. The past participle of 'step down' is 'stepped down'.
She _____ the structural survey report yet — it is still under review.
💡 'Yet' at the end signals an incomplete action, so we need the negative present perfect: 'hasn't submitted'. 'Hasn't already submitted' is wrong — 'already' is not used in negative sentences with 'yet'. 'Has submitted' is affirmative and contradicts 'yet'.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: in negative sentences, use 'yet', not 'already'. The pattern is 'haven't/hasn't + past participle + yet'.
Scientists _____ a new approach to the problem. They published their findings last week.
💡 The first sentence announces recent news, so we use the present perfect: 'have discovered'. The second sentence has 'last week' (a finished time), so the past simple is correct there. 'Discovered' alone in the first sentence is wrong for a news announcement in British English.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: start a news announcement with the present perfect. Then use the past simple for the details.
Signal Words and Recent News: Multiple Choice
Present Perfect with just/yet/already/still; Present Perfect for recent news and events
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.
We _____ a deadline for the procurement report, so everyone knows what to do.
💡 'Already' goes between 'have' and the past participle in affirmative sentences. 'Have yet set' is wrong — 'yet' cannot be used in affirmative sentences. 'Set already' misses the auxiliary 'have'.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'already' in affirmative sentences goes between 'have/has' and the past participle, not at the end.
I _____ the stakeholder liaison about the enquiry. Can you chase them again?
💡 'Still + haven't + past participle' is the correct emphatic negative pattern. 'Don't still contact' is wrong — 'still' must come before the negative auxiliary. 'Haven't contacted still' places 'still' in the wrong position.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'still' always comes before 'haven't/hasn't', not after the past participle.
Has the client signed off on the quote _____? We are waiting for confirmation.
💡 'Yet' goes at the end of a question to ask if something has happened. 'Already' at the end shows surprise. 'Just' and 'still' do not go at the end of questions in this context.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'yet' goes at the end of questions. Do not put it after 'has' at the start of the question.
The team leader _____ the momentum by sending a project update to everyone.
💡 'Just' goes between 'has' and the past participle: 'has just maintained'. 'Has maintained just' puts 'just' in the wrong place. 'Just maintained' (past simple) is not the target form in British English.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'just' must go between 'has/have' and the past participle. It cannot go after the past participle.
The government _____ a new policy on travel. The minister explained the details at a press conference yesterday.
💡 The first sentence announces recent news, so we use the present perfect: 'has introduced'. The second sentence has 'yesterday', a finished time, so the past simple is correct there. 'Introduced' alone in the first sentence is wrong for a news announcement in British English.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: use the present perfect to announce news. Use the past simple to give the details.
The company has announced record profits. The CEO _____ the results at the annual meeting last Thursday.
💡 The news is announced with the present perfect. For the finished detail ('last Thursday'), we use the past simple: 'presented'. 'Has presented' is wrong — we switch to past simple when we give a specific past time.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: after the news headline in the present perfect, use the past simple for the details with a past time word.
I _____ him recently — he seems very busy with the new project.
💡 'Recently' signals a recent, ongoing period, so we use the present perfect: 'have seen'. 'See' (present simple) is wrong — 'recently' does not go with the present simple. 'Saw' (past simple) refers to a finished time, which doesn't match 'recently'.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'recently' and 'lately' always go with the present perfect, not the present simple or past simple.
Don't worry — I _____ the availability of the venue. We can lock in the date today.
💡 'Already' goes between 'have' and the past participle in affirmative sentences. 'Have yet checked' is wrong — 'yet' cannot be used in affirmative sentences. 'Have checked yet' places 'yet' incorrectly in an affirmative sentence.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'already' goes between 'have' and the past participle. 'Yet' is only for questions and negatives.
Breaking news: a local company _____ a major deal with an international partner.
💡 We use the present perfect to announce recent news: 'has secured'. 'Secured' (past simple) is wrong for a breaking news headline in British English. 'Secures' (present simple) does not show the news has just happened. 'Had secured' is past perfect, which is not used for current news.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: in British English, use the present perfect to open a news announcement, not the past simple.
We _____ a response from the supplier about the structural survey yet.
💡 'Yet' at the end needs the negative present perfect: 'haven't received'. 'Haven't already received' is wrong — 'already' is not used in negative sentences. 'Didn't receive' (past simple) does not fit 'yet' in British English.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: in negative sentences with 'yet', use 'haven't/hasn't + past participle'. Do not use 'already' here.
The project team has just completed the first phase. They _____ the results with the client on Tuesday.
💡 The news is announced with the present perfect. 'On Tuesday' is a finished time, so we use the past simple: 'shared'. 'Have shared' is wrong — we switch to past simple for specific past details.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: use the present perfect for the announcement, then switch to the past simple for the details.
The liaison officer _____ the stakeholders about the change in schedule. She emailed everyone an hour ago.
💡 'Just' goes between 'has' and the past participle: 'has just informed'. 'Has informed just' places 'just' after the past participle, which is wrong. 'Just informed' (past simple) is not the target form in British English.
🇮🇹 Note for Italian speakers: 'just' must come between 'has/have' and the past participle. It cannot go after the past participle.
Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.