Adverbs of Time Used with the Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is commonly paired with time adverbs that help specify when an action occurred or the duration it covers. Here are some commonly used time adverbs with examples:

Just

Indicates an action that happened a short time ago.

• She has just finished her homework.
• Have you just heard the news?

Already

Shows that an action has happened before the present moment.

• They have already eaten dinner.
• Have you already booked your tickets?

Yet

Indicates actions that have not happened up to now.

• He hasn’t finished his work yet.
• Have you written your report yet?

For

Specifies a period or duration of time.

• She has lived in this city for ten years.
• Have you been studying French for long?

Since

Specifies a starting point in time.

• He has worked here since 2010.
• Have you known her since childhood?

Ever/Never

Expresses actions happening at any time up to now or not at all.

• She has never visited Europe.
• Have you ever ridden a horse?

Before

Indicates an action that occurred prior to another past action.

• She has never seen such a movie before.
• Have you been to this restaurant before?

Recently

Refers to actions happening a short time ago.

• He has recently started a new job.
• Have you seen her recently?

Lately

Refers to actions happening in the recent past leading up to now.

• She has been feeling stressed lately.
• Have you been practicing yoga lately?

This week/month/year

Specifies actions happening within the current week, month, or year.

• He has visited three museums this week.
• Have you met any new friends this year?

So far

Indicates the progress made up to the present moment.

• She has completed three chapters so far.
• Have you finished your work so far?

Using these adverbs with the present perfect tense adds clarity to the timing or duration of actions, making your sentences more precise and informative. Practice using them in different contexts to improve your mastery of these combinations.