For, Since, Just, Already, and Yet

What you’ll learn

Use time expressions with the present perfect.

ប្រើពាក្យបង្ហាញរយៈពេល និងការបញ្ចប់ឱ្យត្រឹមត្រូវ។

Meaning and use

For gives a duration; since gives the starting point of a situation continuing to now. Just often marks a recent event, already completion earlier than expected, and yet an expected action up to now in questions or negatives. Their position matters, and usage can differ across English varieties.

For ប្រាប់រយៈពេល ហើយ since ប្រាប់ចំណុចចាប់ផ្ដើម។ Just មានន័យថាទើបតែ; already ថារួចហើយ; yet ថានៅមិនទាន់ ឬហើយឬនៅ ក្នុងសំណួរ។

Grammar patterns

Pattern	Example or form
Duration and starting point	for three years / since 2023
Adverb position	has just/already arrived / has not arrived yet

Examples

1. I have known her for five years.

   ខ្ញុំស្គាល់នាងអស់រយៈពេលប្រាំឆ្នាំហើយ។

2. We have lived here since June.

   យើងរស់នៅទីនេះតាំងពីខែមិថុនា។

3. The bus has just arrived.

   ឡានក្រុងទើបតែមកដល់។

4. Have you finished yet?

   តើអ្នកបានបញ្ចប់ហើយឬនៅ?

Everyday conversation

Dara: Has Maly sent the file yet?

Maly: Yes, she has already sent it.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
I have lived here since three years.	I have lived here for three years.	Three years is a duration, so use for.
She has not yet finish.	She has not finished yet.	A perfect construction needs the past participle finished.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Choose: I have worked here (for / since) 2020.
2. Complete with yet: We have not received the parcel ___.
3. Rewrite using just: The meeting finished a moment ago.

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. since

   A year is a starting point.

2. yet

   Yet commonly appears at the end of a negative clause.

3. The meeting has just finished.

   Just links the very recent completion to now.

Quick recap

• Duration and starting point: for three years / since 2023
• Adverb position: has just/already arrived / has not arrived yet