eng8-u1-grammar-b· UNIT 1. FREE TIME FUN· ~20 min

Unit 1 Grammar B: Present Perfect with for, since, already and yet

Choose time markers by meaning and place already and yet correctly.

Use the Present Perfect to connect a past beginning or event with now. For measures a duration: for seven months, for a long time. Since gives the point or event where the period began: since January, since I left school. Already says that something happened before now, often earlier than expected; it normally comes after have or has and before the past participle. Yet says that an expected event has not happened before now; in the lesson pattern, it normally comes at the end of a negative sentence.

Key terms

for — Introduces a duration, or how long a situation has continued.
since — Introduces the point or event where a continuing period began.
already — Shows that something happened before now, often earlier than expected.
yet — Shows in the taught negative pattern that an expected event has not happened before now.
Choosing and placing the four markers
MarkerMeaningTypical pattern
fordurationhave/has + participle + for + period
sincestarting point or eventhave/has + participle + since + point/clause
alreadycompleted before nowhave/has + already + participle
yetexpected but not completedhaven’t/hasn’t + participle + yet
✎Duration or starting point?
  1. 1Read the time expression: Seven months measures a length of time.
  2. 2Choose the marker: A duration takes for.
  3. 3Build the sentence: She has had the telescope for seven months.
✎Completed or still expected?
  1. 1Completed early: Use already before the participle: I have already finished.
  2. 2Not completed: Use yet at the end: I haven’t finished yet.
  3. 3Check the meaning: Already confirms completion; yet in the negative leaves it incomplete up to now.
🚫A date is not a duration

Write since January, but for three months. Ask whether the phrase answers When did it begin? or How long?

💡Marker position matters

Use has already finished and hasn’t finished yet in the patterns taught here.

⚠️Keep the time meaning clear

In the lesson’s contrast, use already to mark the stated completion before now and use yet in the negative when an expected event remains incomplete. Other contexts can give these adverbs different shades of meaning.

Rules

  1. 1Use for + a duration: for ten minutes, for six days, for three years.
  2. 2Use since + a starting point or starting event: since 9 o’clock, since Monday, since I left school.
  3. 3The pattern It has been + period + since + event measures time from a past event until now.
  4. 4Place already after have or has and before the past participle: She has already finished.
  5. 5Place yet at the end of the taught negative pattern: She hasn’t finished yet.
  6. 6Choose the marker from the intended meaning: duration, starting point, completed earlier than expected, or expected but not completed.

Practice

6 easy · 6 medium · 6 hard

Up to 10 random questions per test

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