Just, already and yet

Objective & content

This grammar sheet teaches the present perfect with just (My dog has just eaten the sandwiches!), already (I've already bought them!) and yet in questions and negatives (Have you made the cake yet? Mr Brown hasn't answered yet.), with short answers (Yes, I have. No, not yet.). Pupils read the messages between Imogen and Sanjay as they get ready for the class party, find the missing words and read the rule, given in a box. By the end, they can say what is done, what has just happened and what isn't done yet.

Pedagogical guide

Page 1 is the messages, with a picture of Imogen and of Sanjay: Sanjay has already bought the balloons, Imogen has made the cake but hasn't put the icing on it yet, Mr Brown hasn't answered yet, and Sanjay's dog has just eaten the sandwiches for the party. Pupils find five missing words in sentences from the messages. Then they read the rule, given in a box in short lines: what just, already and yet mean, where they go in the sentence (just and already between have or has and the third form, yet at the end) and the short answers. Page 2 has eight sentences where pupils tick just, already, yet or has, six sentences to write with the words in brackets (just or already and a verb), three sentences to make negative with yet and three questions to make with yet. Page 3 is Lexi's to-do list the evening before her family flies to Spain: ticks with a time (this morning, a minute ago) and crosses. Pupils write a sentence with already, just or not ... yet for each of the seven jobs, write Lexi's short answers to three questions from her mum, then write three sentences about their own day. Every exercise opens with a worked example, except the last one, which gives a sentence starter.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Tell the class "I've already had breakfast. I haven't marked your homework yet." and write the sentences on the board.
2. (10 min) Read the messages aloud; pupils find the missing words.
3. (5 min) Read the rule in the box with the class; pupils find an example of just, of already and of yet in the messages.
4. (15 min) Page 2: the right word, the sentences with the words in brackets, then the negatives and the questions with yet.
5. (10 min) Page 3: Lexi's to-do list, her short answers, then three sentences about the pupils' own day.
6. (5 min) Check with the answer key on pages 4 and 5.

Adaptations

[S] Pupils read the messages aloud in pairs, one as Imogen and one as Sanjay, before the tasks.

[A] Pupils write their own to-do list for a weekend and three sentences about it.

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of pages 1 to 3 per pupil. Pages 4 and 5 are the answer key and teacher notes: keep them. Pupils need the present perfect with have or has and the third form of common verbs, and the words for parties, food and holidays. To take it further, pupils mime a job they have just done in pairs and the class guesses ("You've just washed your hair!").