Unit 10: ALREADY and (NOT) YET

Unit 10:  Already and (not) Yet

We sometimes* use the present perfect with already and (not) yet.  Look at these examples: 

•   I’ve already made of checklist of things to do. (done, finished, accomplished)

    I haven’t made a checklist of things to do yet. (not done, not finished)

•   I’ve already bought all my groceries.  (done)

    I haven’t bought all my groceries yet. (not done)                          

*With already and not yet, many educated people use simple past instead of (而不是, en vez de, вместо, بدلاً من) present perfect.

It’s not wrong.  However, if you are taking a grammar test and you have to choose, you should probably use the perfect. 

Exercise 1A.  Mr. Green is going to have friends over for Thanksgiving dinner.  Look at his checklist of things to do (below).  What has he already done?  What hasn’t he done yet?  (If the item is crossed out, he has already done it.)  Write sentences using already or not yet.  The teacher has already done the first one for you!

1.     cut up the vegetables → He has already cut up the vegetables.  

2.     clean the bathroom → He    

3.     invite his friends over →

4.     vacuum →                                                                    

5.     buy some wine →

6.     set the table →                       

7.     start thawing* the turkey *使解冻, 使化冻, descongelar, оттаивать,

        يزيل الثلج أو الصقيع  

        →

8.     dust →                                    

9.     make some pumpkin pie →

10.   prepare the stuffing* → 填 料, relleno, начинка, حشو، حشوة

11.   stuff* the turkey  *Put the stuffing in →

Another way to say haven’t…yet is still haven’t/still hasn't.  Look at the following examples:                      

•   I haven’t washed the dishes yet. → I still haven’t washed the dishes.                       

•   She hasn’t wrapped up the leftovers yet. → She still hasn’t wrapped up the leftovers.

Exercise 1B.  Rewrite sentences 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11.  Use still hasn’t.

2.

4.

6.

8.

9.

11.

2.  He still hasn’t cleaned the bathroom. (no yet!)

4.  He still hasn’t vacuumed. (no yet!)

6.  He still hasn’t set the table.     

8.  He still hasn’t dusted.              

9.  He still hasn’t made any pumpkin pie.

11. He still hasn’t stuffed the turkey.

2.  He still hasn’t cleaned the bathroom. (no yet!)

4.  He still hasn’t vacuumed. (no yet!)

6.  He still hasn’t set the table.     

8.  He still hasn’t dusted.              

9.  He still hasn’t made any pumpkin pie.

11. He still hasn’t stuffed the turkey.