For, since, already, yet and still in English: which word, and where it goes in the sentence

Five small words do most of the work around the present perfect and the present perfect continuous: for, since, already, yet and still. Their meanings take about a minute to learn. Their position in the sentence takes rather longer, and that is where nearly every learner error lives. I have eaten already is fine, I already have eaten is not, and he has not still called means nothing at all. This guide covers both halves, meaning first and then position, with a table you can keep.

For and since

The split is clean and it never bends.

I have worked here for five years and I have worked here since 2020 describe the same situation from two angles. One measures the block of time; the other names the moment the clock started.

Two things the basic rule does not tell you.

Since can take a whole clause, and that clause goes into the past simple.

• I have not seen him since he left school.
• She has been much happier since she moved house.

The main verb stays in the perfect, the clause after since goes into the past simple, because the starting point itself is a finished event.

For can be left out in short answers and casual speech. How long have you been here? Two hours. I have known her ten years. Both are natural. Since can never be dropped.

Watch the trap on the other side: for with the past simple means a finished period. I lived in Rome for two years says you do not live there now. I have lived in Rome for two years says you still do. Same phrase, different tense, opposite meaning.

Already

Already means the thing has happened, and usually sooner than expected.

Position: after the auxiliary, before the main verb.

• I have already eaten.
• She has already finished the report.
• They had already gone when we arrived.

With be as the main verb, already goes straight after it: he is already here, not he already is here.

You can also park already at the end of the sentence for a bit more force: I have eaten already. Both positions are correct; the end position sounds more emphatic and slightly more spoken.

In a question, already carries surprise. Have you finished already? is not asking for information, it is saying that was fast.

Yet

Yet means not up to this moment. It belongs in negatives and questions only, and it belongs at the end of the sentence.

• I have not finished yet.
• Has the post arrived yet?
• We have not decided yet.

I have yet finished and I have finished yet are both wrong. In a positive sentence, yet is simply the wrong word: what you want is already.

There is one formal pattern where yet appears in a positive sentence, have yet to: we have yet to hear from them = we have not heard from them. It reads as rather stiff and you can safely leave it alone until later.

Still

Still means the situation has not stopped. It is the only one of the five that works comfortably with any tense, not just the perfect.

Position in a positive sentence: before the main verb, but after be.

• He still works at the school.
• I am still waiting.
• She has still got a copy.

Position in a negative sentence: before the auxiliary. This is the one to memorise, because it is the exception and learners get it wrong constantly.

• He still has not called. Not he has still not called (possible, but weaker) and definitely not he has not still called.
• They still do not know.
• I still cannot open the door.

Putting still in front of the auxiliary is what makes the sentence sound impatient, which is exactly the effect the word is there for.

Still not, or not yet?

They report the same fact and carry a different attitude.

If you are simply stating that something has not happened, use yet. If you want the listener to hear that it should have happened by now, use still.

Where each word sits: the master table

The rest of the family

Four more time words travel with the perfect tenses, and each has a settled slot.

• just (a very short time ago) sits in mid-position: I have just arrived. British English keeps it in the present perfect; American English often uses the past simple, I just arrived.
• ever (at any time in your life) sits in mid-position and lives in questions: Have you ever been to Japan?
• never sits in mid-position and already carries the negative, so the verb stays positive: I have never seen it. Never I have not never seen it.
• so far and up to now go at the start or the end: So far we have sold eight. We have sold eight so far.

Common mistakes

Ranked by how often they turn up.

1. for and since swapped. for Monday and since two hours are the classic pair. It is since Monday and for two hours. Ask which question the phrase answers: how long, or starting when.
2. yet in a positive sentence. I have done it yet should be I have already done it. Yet only works in negatives and questions.
3. already in the wrong slot. I already have finished puts already in front of the auxiliary, which is where still goes, not already. Say I have already finished.
4. not still instead of still not. He has not still arrived is not English. The order is he still has not arrived.
5. Double negative with never. I have not never done that. Never is already negative, so the auxiliary stays positive: I have never done that.
6. since with a length of time. I have been here since three hours. Three hours is a length, so it takes for: I have been here for three hours, or name the moment: since three o'clock.

Practice

Fill each gap with for, since, already, yet or still. Answers are below.

1. We have been waiting ___ half an hour.
2. I have not read your letter ___.
3. She has ___ sold the car, so you are too late.
4. He ___ has not paid me back.
5. They have lived here ___ last summer.

Answers: 1. for (a length of time) 2. yet (negative, end of the sentence) 3. already (it happened sooner than you expected) 4. still (negative, so still comes before the auxiliary) 5. since (a starting point).