already

Universal Words adverb 1 before now or before a particular time in the past: 'Lunch?' 'No thanks, I've already eaten.' * We got there early but Mike had already left. 2 used to express surprise that sth has happened so soon or so early: Is it 10 o'clock already? * You're not leaving already, are you? 3 used to emphasize that a situation or problem exists: I'm already late. * There are far too many people already. We can't take any more. ______________________________ BRITISH/AMERICAN already / just / yet Already and yet are usually used with the present perfect tense, but in AmE they can also be used with the simple past tense: I already did it. * Did you eat yet? However, this is much more common in spoken English than in written and some Americans do not consider it acceptable, even in speech. The present perfect is more common in AmE and almost always used in BrE: I've already done it. * Have you eaten yet? Just is mostly used with the perfect tenses in BrE and with the simple past in AmE: I've just had some bad news. (BrE) * I just got some bad news. (AmE) ______________________________ \