i do finish my homework last night

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finished, have finished, be finished, be done, ,have done, did,

I'd like to know the exact difference of those.

I finished my homework.

I am finished with my homework.

I have finished my homework.

I did my homework.

I am done with my homework.

I have done my homework.

Do they have different meanings? You might say those are slitely the same, but what if the objects are replaced with other things.

3 Answers 3

This sentence uses past simple. Your homework was completed in the past.

In this sentence, finished is an adjective. Just like the word "done", it means that you are not requiring any work at it.

This is present perfect tense. Your work is completed. But the consequence probably exists in presence as the current state. For more information, please read The Pragmatic Meaning of the Perfect

Finished and Done are interchangeable here, there is no significant difference. But sometimes, done can be meant to be tired. For example, I'm done with your excuses means I'm tired with your excuses .

• "done", in my opinion, tends to be a more american usage in this scenario (I wouldn't use it so much in Britain, anyway) –  simonalexander2005 Commented Nov 28, 2016 at 10:11

The first three mean the same thing.

"I did my homework" means only that you have worked on your homework, but maybe not completed (finished) it. Maybe you still have some left.

Note however that when most people say "I did my homework" they will often mean that they finished it.

"I am done with my homework" means that you have had enough of doing your homework and will not continue doing it at this moment. Again, it doesn't necessarily mean you finished all your homework, although it is more finalising that "I did my homework."

"I have done my homework" means, like the first three, that you have finished it.

Actually, while here below we are discussing “those”, you were above asking about “these”. Does that make sense?

Either way the examples do have broadly similar meanings but there are significant differences, including these below:

I finished my homework. I completed my homework at some time in the past. I might have started the work previously and set it aside, but during the session in question, I completed the work.

I am finished with my homework. I completed whatever homework I had and I do not expect any more; not in the immediate future and not impossibly, never.

I have finished my homework. I have just now completed my homework, seconds or at most minutes ago.

I did my homework. Very much the same as “I finished my homework.” Some might say "did" could as easily mean "finished" or simply "worked on". Some might say “finished” could indicate a session resumed and “did”, completion in a single session.

I am done with my homework. Not just similar; probably identical to “I am finished with my homework.

I have done my homework. Very much the same as “I have finished my homework” but rather less immediate. “Done” is more likely than “finished” to imply “I did it yesterday”.

Further, “I am done / finished with my (anything)” are anchored within the same range of meaning only by that possessive “my”.

With the possessive “my” the sentence is a specific, factual report about the fate of a concrete and measurable thing.

Without the possessive “my” it would become instead a generic philosophical statement of intent about an abstract and unmeasurable subject.

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Using the Present Perfect Tense

Are you wondering when to use the present perfect tense? Or I should say, "have you learned" when to use the present perfect? We use this tense to talk about an action that started in the past and   has a connection to the present.

[Note: Click here to learn  how to form   the present perfect.]

Use #1:   Describe past situations / things that have a strong connection to the present

We use the present perfect simple to describe an action  or state that started at an unknown or unspecified time in the past  AND has a connection to the present .

Learners are sometimes confused by this. They ask, if this tense is called the "present" perfect, why are we talking about "past" actions? Excellent question.

With this tense we're talking about the past   and the present . These actions or situations may have started and ended in the past but we are focusing on the effect of this action now in the present moment. Let's look at some examples to try to make this clearer:

• Your poor grades have become a problem. (The result now is that there is a problem.)
• Have you seen Selma? (Where is she now?)
• She 's gone to school. (She left home and is at school now.)
• Take off your shoes. I have just cleaned the floor. (A short while ago I mopped the dirty floor and it is clean now.)
• I can't find my keys. Have you seen them? (I lost my keys and can't find them now.)
• Have you done your homework? (Is your homework finished now?)
• I started but I haven't finished my homework yet. (My homework is not finished now.)
• I've been sick all day. (I'm still sick now.)

In each of these examples we are focusing on the result now or why the action is important at this present time.

Use #2: Describe past actions or conditions that continue in the present

It's usually easier for learners to understand the second use which is for actions that started in the past and are still continuing in the present moment.

The tense helps to answer " how long ago " something has been happening (in relation to now) or for how long a period of time  something has been happening. 

FOR / SINCE

We often use the words " since " (after a specific time) or " for " (a period of time) with this usage.

• We have lived here for  25 years.(We came here 25 years ago and still live here.) 
• My parents have been married since   1967. (They're still married.)
• We 've waited 20 minutes already for the bus. (We are still waiting.)
• My daughter has been sick for a week.
• I haven’t slept for two days.
• We haven’t seen each other since high school.
• I haven’t had a drink since the accident.
• He hasn’t dated anyone since his wife left him.
• I haven’t smoked a cigarette for three months now.

Note : we cannot use the present perfect tense with a completed time word. For example:

• Wrong:   We have seen the movie last night.  (Correct: we saw the movie last night.)
• Wrong :  Yesterday, I had worked very late. (Correct: Yesterday, I worked very late.)

With finished time words we use the present simple.

Use #3:  To ask about whether we ever   had past experiences

We frequently use the present perfect tense to ask or talk about whether someone has  experienced something during their life (at any time in the past until this moment).

EVER / NEVER / BEFORE

Often, we use the words " ever " (in questions) and " never ".  We will sometimes also add the word " before ."

• Have you ever   eaten fried insects?
• No, I haven't   tried fried insects and never will.
• Has  Jimmy ever   been this sick before?
• Have you taken private English lessons?
• I ' ve never travelled by train before.
• Have the children  ever   done something like this before?
• Never   in my life have I been so much in love.

Adverbs that are frequently used with the present perfect tense:  Already / yet / just / still

The following words (adverbials) are often used with the present perfect tense:

Just describes something that happened a short time before this moment.

• I 've just   received your email and will read it now.
• He 's just   arrived , I hear the car pulling to the garage.
• I'm so excited. Lady Gaga has just   released her latest album.

Just about means that something that was started is almost finished .

• I 've just about   finished this novel.
• Have you finished the report yet? Just about .
• I 've just about   used up all the milk.

Already has two main meanings:

1. Already = before this time (before now)

• Where's that letter? I 've already   mailed it.
• Can I help you clean? I 've already   swept to the floor but you can vacuum the carpet.
• We 've already   eaten at that restaurant so let's go somewhere else.

2. Already = so soon (something happened quickly or earlier than expected)

• We need to take the trash out. I 've already   taken it out.
• Has my boyfriend arrived already? I'm still getting dressed.
• You don't have to ask. Your mother has already   ironed your shirt.

Yet = at this time , until this time , as soon as this time

Note :  Yet usually comes at the end of the sentence. We use yet with negative statements and questions.

• Have my parents arrived yet?   (They are expected to arrive soon.)
• Have you finished the report yet?   (It should be done or finished soon.)
• He hasn't called yet.   (Until this time he hasn't called but he should call soon.)
• It's 3 o'clock and I haven't had lunch yet .

We use still in negative sentences with the present perfect to emphasize an action or situation happening or existing before now and continuing into the present:

• I can't believe you still   haven't written your paper.
• He said he sent an email an hour ago but I still  haven't received it.
• We still   haven't decided what to eat for lunch. 

If you need to review how to form   the present perfect tense please check this page. I go over the positive and negative forms, questions, review the irregular past participles and spelling changes and give lots of examples.

• Main Grammar Page
• Using the Present Perfect

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Past Perfect Tense With Examples, Rules, Usage

Table of Contents

The past perfect tense is a grammatical form used to describe actions that were completed before a specific point in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb.

• She had finished the work.
• They had visited the museum last summer.
• They had not seen the movie.
• He had never been to Paris before this vacation.
• Had you studied for the test before it was announced?
• Had the mail arrived before you left the house?

Forming the Past Perfect Tense

Affirmative Sentences

Affirmative sentences in past perfect tense are statements that express an action that was completed before a specific point in the past. They are structured using the following formula.

Subject + had +verb(3rd form) + object.

• She had already finished her breakfast.
• They had watched the movie before bedtime.
• He had visited the new museum in town.
• The children had played in the park all afternoon.
• By the time I arrived, they had already eaten dinner.
• She realized she had forgotten her keys at home.
• We had never been to this restaurant before.
• The teacher had explained the lesson before the test.
• He told me he had already seen the new movie.
• The sun had set by the time we reached the beach.

The sentences given above are broken down according to their grammatical structure.

Negative Sentences

Interrogative sentences in past perfect tense are questions that inquire about actions or events that occurred before a specific point in the past. They are formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

Subject + had + not + verb(3rd form) + object.

• She hadn’t finished her chores before dinner.
• They hadn’t visited the park in months.
• He hadn’t heard that song until yesterday.
• The team hadn’t practiced enough before the match.
• We hadn’t met our new neighbors until last week.
• The store hadn’t restocked the shelves by noon.
• He hadn’t tried sushi before last night.
• She hadn’t watched that TV series until now.
• They hadn’t seen that movie before last night.
• He hadn’t spoken to his cousin in years.

Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences in past perfect tense are questions about actions or events that happened before a specific point in the past. They start with “Had” followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

Had + subject + verb(3rd form) + object?

• Had she eaten breakfast before leaving for work?
• Had they visited the museum before the trip?
• Had he finished his chores before going out to play?
• Had you heard the news before we told you?
• Had they cleaned the house before the party?
• Had she read the book before watching the movie?
• Had we met our new neighbors before the event?
• Had he seen that movie before last night?
• Had they played any games before the picnic?
• Had she finished her work by the time you called?

Usages of the Past Perfect Tense

Describing Completed Actions Before Another Past Action

Describing Completed Actions Before Another Past Action” is one of the key uses of the past perfect tense. It helps establish a clear sequence of events in the past.

• By the time we arrived, they had already finished their meal .
• She had completed the project before the deadline.
• The train had left the station before we reached it.
• They hadn’t started the meeting before the boss arrived.
• The bakery hadn’t sold out of croissants when we got there.
• She hadn’t visited that museum before last summer.
• Had you finished your homework before the teacher collected it?
• Had they seen that movie before it won an award?
• Had she ever traveled to Europe before this trip?

Narrating Past Events in a Sequence

“Narrating Past Events in a Sequence” is another important use of the past perfect tense. It helps in presenting a series of past events in the order in which they occurred.

• She had breakfast , then went for a walk , and finally read a book .
• They had a picnic , then played games , and afterwards shared stories .
• She didn’t have time to finish her drawing , so she left it for tomorrow .
• They didn’t find any ripe apples , so they postponed making the pie .
• Had she already finished her snack before going for a walk?
• Had they played any games before having the picnic?

Expressing Regrets or Hypothetical Scenarios in the Past

Expressing regrets or hypothetical scenarios in the past involves using the past perfect tense to discuss situations that didn’t happen, or to express a sense of regret or longing for different outcomes in the past.

• If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
• She wishes she had taken that job offer last year.
• He believes he would have won the race if he had trained harder.
• If she had arrived earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the train.
• He wishes he hadn’t sold his antique collection.

Reporting Past Actions or Speech

Reporting past actions or speech” involves conveying what someone said or did in the past. This is typically done through indirect or reported speech, where the original statement or action is reported using a different verb tense (often the past perfect tense) to indicate that it happened in the past.

• She told me, I finished the report .
• He said, She has already left .
• They mentioned, We visited the museum .
• She told me that she hadn’t finished the report.
• He said that she had already left .
• They mentioned that they hadn’t visited the museum.
• Did she tell you she had finished the report?
• Had he mentioned that she had already left?
• Did they ask if we had visited the museum?

Past Perfect Tense Chart

Signal words for Past Perfect Tense

Signal words for Past Perfect Tense indicate that an action or event occurred before another action in the past.

• She had finished her work before the meeting started.
•  They had already eaten when I arrived.
•   By the time we got to the cinema, the movie had already begun.
•  She hadn’t seen the movie until last night.
•   After they had left, I realized I forgot my keys.
• He hadn’t heard the news before we told him.
• She had never visited that city before.
•  She didn’t taste that type of food until today.
•   No sooner had they finished the project than the deadline arrived.
• Had you finished your work before the call?
•   Hadn’t they seen the movie before last night?
• Had you ever been to this city before your trip?
• Had they finished the project by the deadline?
•   Before we arrived, had they already played the game?

Time Expressions

Time expressions are words or phrases that indicate when an action or event took place. In the context of past perfect tense, they help establish the relationship between different past actions.

• She finished her homework before dinner .
• He had known her since kindergarten .
• By morning, the rain had stopped .
• They had watched the movie twice already.
• She had read the book before bedtime .
• He hadn’t eaten breakfast yet .
• She realized she hadn’t studied in a while .
• They hadn’t seen that show since last year .
• He hadn’t visited the museum in years .
• She hadn’t traveled abroad before last summer .
• Had you finished your chores by the time I called? ( Time Expression )
• When did they first meet each other? ( Time Expression )
• By what time had they completed the project? ( Time Expression )
• Had they ever been to this city before? ( Time Expression )
• Since when had he known about this new technology? (Time Expression)

Past Perfect vs. Simple Past Tense

Differentiating Between Past Perfect and Simple Past

Here’s a table comparing Past Perfect Tense and Simple Past Tense

• Past Perfect Tense Example Sentences
• The mother had cooked food before the sun rose.
• I had recited the Holy Quran before you came.
• The bell had rung when we reached the school.
• The train had gone when I reached the station.
• They had taken tea when I reached there.
• The patient had died before the doctor came.
• They had already finished their work.
• He had reached here till 2’O clock.
• The girl had already sung songs.
• The teacher had already taught us lesson.
• By then, he had finished all his work.
• They were tired because they had walked a lot.
• We were surprised because they hadn’t told us.
• The movie was over because they had watched it.
• She knew the answer because she had studied.
• They were happy because they had won the prize.
• He was full because he had eaten a big meal.
• The students were tired because they had studied.
• She had a great time because she had danced a lot.
• They were sleepy because they had stayed up late.
• He had not taken breakfast before you came.
• They had not bought tickets before the train came.
• Aslam had not heard this good news yet.
• It had not rained yet.
• I had never eaten such a delicious fruit before.
• He hadn’t visited his grandparents in a long time.
• She hadn’t tried that new restaurant yet.
• They hadn’t met their new neighbors before the party.
• By the time they arrived, the show hadn’t started yet.
• He hadn’t seen a shooting star until last night.
• She hadn’t been to the beach in years.
• We hadn’t seen each other in a long time.
• The cat hadn’t eaten its food yet.
• She hadn’t visited the museum in a while.
• They hadn’t finished the puzzle by bedtime.
• He hadn’t cooked dinner before the guests arrived.
• She hadn’t heard the news until now.
• They hadn’t bought groceries for the week.
• By the time they left, the party hadn’t even started.
• He hadn’t taken a vacation in years.
• Had you finished your work before the sun set?
• Had the police already dispersed the crowd?
• Had they already left for Lahore?
• Why had you not posted the letter before you went to school?
• Had they already reached the school?
• Had he fixed the car before the road trip?
• Had she learned to swim before the summer?
• Had they packed their bags before the vacation?
• Had we finished all the tasks before leaving?
• Had he visited his grandparents before the holidays?
• Had you met the new neighbors before the barbecue?
• Had they chosen a restaurant before the reservation?
• Had she attended any classes before the conference?
• Had we booked the tickets before they were sold out?
• Had he heard about the new job before the interview?
• Had they received the package before leaving home?
• Had she completed the assignment before the deadline?
• Had we packed our bags before the trip started?
• Had he visited that museum before it closed down?
• Had you tried that dish before today?

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Avoiding common mistakes in language use is crucial for effective communication.

Here are some tips to help you steer clear of frequent errors:

• Watch Subject-Verb Agreement : Ensure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural).
• Avoid Double Negatives : Using two negatives in a sentence can lead to confusion. For example, “I can’t hardly wait” should be “I can hardly wait.”
• Be Consistent with Verb Tenses : Stick to one tense throughout a piece of writing, unless there’s a specific reason for a shift.
• The Past Perfect Tense is a verb form that is used to describe an action that took place before another action or a specific point in the past.
• The Past Perfect Tense is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle form of the main verb (e.g., had + eaten).
• Time expressions like “before,” “by the time,” “already,” “until,” and “hadn’t” are commonly used with the Past Perfect Tense.
• The Simple Past Tense describes an action that happened at a specific point in the past, while the Past Perfect Tense describes an action that occurred before another past action.
• “Hadn’t” is the contraction of “had not” and is used in negative sentences (e.g., “She hadn’t finished her work.”). “Didn’t” is the contraction of “did not” and is used in negative sentences in the Simple Past Tense (e.g., “She didn’t finish her work.”).
• Yes, the Past Perfect Tense can be used in reported speech to convey information that was said or thought in the past (e.g., “He said he had already seen the movie.”).
• Yes, adverbs like “already,” “just,” “never,” “yet,” and others can be used with the Past Perfect Tense to provide additional information about the timing of the action.

Free Grammar and Vocabulary Worksheets Resources

• Worksheet Tenses
• English Worksheets
• Action Verbs Worksheets
• Past Perfect Tense Worksheets

You May Also Like

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Past simple or past continuous?

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The first one is more natural if you are referring to an action that was in progress at 8 o'clock. But it is not possible to omit the subject in English, pronoun " I " in this case.

If you are referring to an action that was concluded before 8 o'clock, you should use Past Perfect and a different preposition, " by 8 o'clock" in this case.

E.g.: I had finished my homework by 8 o'clock last night.

Both sentences are syntactically incorrect, i.e. the word order is not respected. 

You have two options: 1) to use a comma for emphasis: At 8 o'clock last night , I was doing my homework; 2) to put the whole adverbial phrase after the object: I was doing my homework at 8 o'clock last night .

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Present Perfect

For recently finished actions.

Table of Contents

In this grammar section we will have a look at the tense Present Perfect to talk about recently finished/completed actions.

A: How long have you worked there? B: I have worked there for 3 years.

A: How long have you been friends? B: We haven’t been friends for long. We have been friends since 2022

The video gives an overview of to Present Perfect for something recently completed/finished actions.

It shows the meaning/usage: when and why to use the Present Perfect.

For the form and the pronunciation have a look a the different webpages:

• Present perfect form
• Present perfect pronunciation

Usage/ Meaning

How and when do we use the Present Perfect?

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something recently finished.

I have just done my homework: This means not so long ago you finished your homework . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it, but it wasn’t so long ago . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

I have already done my homework: This means you finished your homework somewhere before now . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something that is not finished.

I haven’t done my homework yet : This means you did not finished your homework somewhere before now but that you will do it later . It is usually used to stress that you did not finished the action but you will do it somewhere soon in the future.

• Just: recently finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have just finished . 
• Already: finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have already finished .
• Yet: not finished, but will finish it later. Negative and questions. At the end of the sentence: I haven’t finished yet .

Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments below . Also give us some more details about when, where, why,….

• What have you already done today?
• What haven’t you done yet today, but must still do today?
• What have you just finished before answering these questions?
• Have you just had some food?
• Have you already finished your homework?
• Have you already studied today?
• Have you just had a phone call?
• Have you already had lunch today?
• Which movie have you already seen more than 2 times?
• Which goals in your life have you already achieved?

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English Test Simple Past – Present Perfect Simple

Test your knowledge on Simple Past and Present Perfect Simple. After submitting your answers, you will see how well you have done in the test.

Write down the correct form (pronoun + verb).

When do we use which tense?

• 'How often so far' is a signal word for ... Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
• '... ago' is a signal word for ... Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
• 'Until now' is an signal word for ... Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
• 'Yesterday', 'last week' und 'in 2006' are signal words for ... Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
• 'Just', 'already', 'yet' are signal words for ... Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

Positive Sentences

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

• William (tidy / already) up his room.
• Caroline (miss) the schoolbus yesterday.
• I (finish / just) my homework.
• I cannot go out tonight. My grandparents (come) to see us.
• In 2004, the Olympic Summer Games (take) place in Athens.

Negative Sentences

• We (watch / not) TV last night.
• Joanna (read / not) the book yet.
• Collin (not / go) on holiday last year.
• I (have / not) any problems so far.
• They (learn / not) the new words yet.
• (they / be / ever) to New York?
• (you / see) Catherine a minute ago?
• What time (you / get) up today?
• (he / hear) the news yet?
• How often (you / play) that game up to now?
• A: I (see / not) you for a long time. Where (you / be) ?
• B: I (come / just) back from Canada.
• A: Oh really? What (you / do) in Canada?
• B: I (take) a nature tour.
• A: Wow! (you / see) many wild animals there?
• B: Of course. I (watch) bears, wolves and whales in the wild. That (be) so interesting. (you / spend / ever) a holiday in Canada?
• A: Yes, I (travel) around Canada twice so far.
• B: When (you / go) there?
• A: The first time I (go) there (be) in 1997 and the second time in 2004.
• B: (you / enjoy) it?
• A: I absolutely (love) it, especially the west coast.

I ___do my homework last night

A. not could

B. didn´t can

C. couldn´t

Select your answer:          

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Yes I have done it before today [closed]

Question : have you done the Homework? Answer : Yes I have done it before today..

Is it Correct if I did my homework yesterday itself and I use present perfect answer the question? Since I can't say yesterday in present perfect, can I say before today?

• present-perfect

• Correct in what way? –  Lawrence Commented May 9, 2018 at 14:08
• Can I use present perfect to answer the question since I cant use yesterday in present perfect . can I say before today instead of yesterday? @Lawrence –  TheMdsami33 Commented May 9, 2018 at 14:52
• It sounds a bit odd. Perhaps it's because that uses have as a straight verb (I have [ done whatever ]), as opposed to an auxiliary verb ( have done ). It seems to answer a question like "Have you ever done done this?" rather than the one your question poses. However, I'm not a linguist, so I'll leave it to the more technically-minded among us to present a proper answer. There may also be material already in the database. Click the present-perfect tag to get a list of those questions to look at. –  Lawrence Commented May 9, 2018 at 15:25
• What does "before today" mean? Is it yesterday? Is it last night? Is it two days ago? Maybe you meant to say " earlier today"? –  Mari-Lou A Commented May 9, 2018 at 17:33
• Probably technically "correct" from a grammar standpoint, but quite ambiguous. Should only be used if the intent is to create confusion. –  Hot Licks Commented May 9, 2018 at 17:50

It seems that the main issue is that you don't know how to combine an explicit mention of yesterday with the present perfect. The standard way of doing it is by making yesterday a supplement , something not integrated into the syntactic structure of the sentence. Like this:

Q: Have you done your homework? A: Yes I have, yesterday .

It is true that

Time adjuncts like last week, two minutes ago , etc., which refer to times wholly before now, are incompatible with the present perfect.

( CGEL , p. 143). The reson is that

The present perfect involves reference to both past and present time: it is concerned with a time-span beginning in the past and extending up to now. It is not used in contexts where the 'now' component of this is explicitly or implicitly excluded.

Nevertheless, note that such adjuncts are allowed if they appear as supplements (something that is not integrated into the syntactical structure of the sentence). Thus, we are allowed to say

A: Yes I have, yesterday.

Here are some examples of similar usage from published literature (the supplemental time adjunct is in boldface):

"Have you been there?" "Yes I have, last time he was in London ." (source) 'Yes, we have, yesterday .' (source) "Yes, they have, on that fateful day ." (source) "Yes Ivana she has, some five years ago. " (source) "Yes, she has. Last night ." ( source. Here the temporal adjunct appears on its own as a verbless and subjectless sentence, which could equally well appear as a supplement.)

The reason why this works is that supplements are only required to be semantically compatible with the rest of the sentence, whereas integrated parts of the sentence must be syntactically compatible as well. CGEL explains it like this (pp. 1351-1352):

[Integrated constructions require] that the complement be syntactically licensed, whereas in supplementation it is, as we said above, a matter of semantic compatibility. Compare: [7]  i  a.   The stipulation that Harry could not touch the money until he was eighteen                annoyed him enormously.           b.  * The codicil that Harry could not touch the money until he was eighteen                annoyed him enormously.       ii  a.   This stipulation—that Harry could not touch the money until he was                eighteen—annoyed him enormously.           b.   The codicil in the will—that Harry could not touch the money until he was                eighteen—annoyed him enormously.

A codicil is 'an addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one' (see e.g. here ). CGEL continues:

The examples in [i] belong to the integrated head + complement construction. Stipulation licenses a declarative complement, but codicil does not: hence the ungrammaticality of [ib]. In [ii] the content clause is a supplement, interpreted as specifying the content of its anchor NP [noun phrase; an anchor is what the supplement is related to semantically, but not syntactically]. And this time the codicil example is acceptable: the NP it heads denotes an addition to a will and hence has propositional content which can be specified by a declarative content clause.

Why the sentence you tried doesn't work

Now let's discuss why

[1] I have done it before today.

doesn't work in your case.

It is an acceptable sentence of English, but it is probably not how that conversation would actually go. In your context, it sounds awkward. To explain why, let's consider the following sentence:

[2] I have borrowed this car three times before today. (source)

This implies that the speaker borrowed the car a total of four times: three times before today, and then also today.

So [1] would make sense in the following situation: Kim and Alex have just completed some activity that lots of people find frightening although it is actually perfectly safe. It is Alex's first time doing that, and he got really scared. Kim, however, was calm, and Alex is wondering how Kim managed to stay so calm. Kim says, 'Oh, I've done it before today.'

What a native speaker would actually say

While Yes I have, yesterday is prefectly fine, other responses to Have you done your homework? are perheps even more likely:

Yes, I have. Yes, I did it yesterday.

Note that especially in American English, the question itself could be in the preterite:

Did you do your homework?

Is this is case of ellipsis?

It has been suggested that what we have here is a case of ellipsis, i.e. that [3] i is an ellipted version of [3] ii, where the boldfaced words in ii are the ones that were ellipted, while '___'s mark the positions in i where the ellipsis occured:

[3]   i   Yes I have ___, ___ yesterday.        ii   Yes I have done it , I did it yesterday.

An important thing to realize about ellipsis is that it should be invoked only when other kinds of analyses fail—the burden on proof is on those who claim something is an ellipsis, not those who claim it is not. This follows from principle that the elliptical construction must be grammatically 'defective': therefore, if it can be shown that a construction is not 'defective', then it is not an instance of ellipsis. There are other principles as well. ComGEL gives five such principles (pp. 884-887):

(a) The ellipted words are precisely recoverable; (b) The elliptical construction is grammatically 'defective'; (c) The insertion of the missing words results in a grammatical        sentence with the same meaning as the original sentence; (d) The missing word(s) are textually recoverable, and; (e) are present in the text in exactly the same form.

In light of these, let's compare [3] with a pradigmatic case of ellipsis:

[4]  i  A:   You had better stay at home.     B:   Yes, I'd better.       ii                                                                  B:   Yes, I'd better stay at home .

(a) In [4], stay at home is the only realistic option for the ellipted part. Not so in [3]. Any of the following would also work:

done my homework, I did/finished it done it, I did/finished my homework done my homework, I did/finished my homework done my homework, I did/finished my homework

done it, I was done with it

and many others.

(b) In [4], i is indeed grammatically defective: had better requires a complement. [3] i, however, is not defective, because yesterday is a supplement (this is what I explained in the main part of my answer).

(c) This one is OK in [4]. It may be OK in [3]. The problem is that [3] ii consists of two independent clauses connected by just a comma. Normally this is not OK: independent clauses should either be explicitly coordinated by a connection (e.g. since ) or else joined by a semi-colon. As it is, it looks like a comma splice. However, maybe we can say that [3] ii is an instance of asyndetic coordination.

(d) and (e) Definitiely satisfied in [4]. Maybe it is also OK in [3]. Ellipsis normally allows trivial changes to accomodate agreement for number, person, and tense. For example, consider

She hasn't written it yet, but I'm sure she soon will ___ ,

where the position of the ellipted part is indicated by '___'. What is ellipted (i.e. what should appear in place of '___') is write it , even though what we have in the first part is written it .

So perhaps it is not that big a deal that we have two ellipses, both of the verb *do , which is the present perfect in the first ellipsis, but in the preterite in the second. Note that in the second ellipsis, we have also ellipted the subject, I .

In the end, I would say that on ballance, the ellipsis analysis in [3] does not look more persuasive than my original suggestion that yesterday is a supplement. Properties (a) and (b) are the most important characteristics of ellipses, and they do not seem to hold for [3].

• 1 If someone had asked me "Have you done your homework?", I would probably have answered, "Yes, I did it yesterday." Or I might have said, "Yes, I have." In the second case, "...done my homework" is "understood". –  tautophile Commented May 9, 2018 at 16:44
• @tautophile Agreed; what you say is what a native speaker is most likely to say in this situation. I interpreted the OP's question as mostly about how to combine yesterday with the present perfect. I think that's an interesting question, given that time adjunct like yesterday are not licensed by the present perfect. And yet we do often combine the two, and I thought it would be interesting to explain how we do that. But I have included your comments in the answer (the new last section, 'What a native speaker would actually say'). Thanks! –  linguisticturn Commented May 9, 2018 at 17:43
• @linguisticturn Thank you so much .. first time i got my answer here.. I fully understood your explanation.. I doubt is cleared now. –  TheMdsami33 Commented May 10, 2018 at 6:03
• @TheMdsami33 You're welcome! (BTW, it should be My doubt is cleared now. :) ) –  linguisticturn Commented May 10, 2018 at 13:03
• @linguisticturn by mistake I typed that.. last question , A witness claimed he saw a thief or A witness claimed he had seen a thief... newspaper it was written : A witness claimed he saw a theif. I think this is Reported Speech , and A witness claimed he had seen a thief , is correct? –  TheMdsami33 Commented May 10, 2018 at 14:16

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Example: "I will have read that book if I finish my homework ," Habré leído ese libro si si termino mi tarea.

So, for the week or two preceding the test day, I finished my homework as quickly as possible and then sat down to study.

" I finished my homework , Dad.

I worked on it in the late hours after I finished my homework and on weekends, yet I felt like I was learning way more about the world of business from working on my start-up than by going to class and completing the assignments.

If you use step 9 " I finished my homework already" Your parents might want to check if you really did or not.

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Adverb Clause of Time And Exercises

You might know that an adverb clause is a  dependent clause  that functions as an adverb in a sentence. There are different kinds of adverb clauses in English; in addition, the subordinators can distinguish the different types of adverb clauses. In this lesson, you will learn how to use an adverb clause of time.

Adverb Clause of Time

The adverb clause connectors, such as after, before, when, while/as, by the time, since, until/till, as soon as/once, as long as/so long as, and whenever can be used to form adverb clauses of time. Examples:

• After I am done with my homework, I will study the adverb clause of time.
• As soon as we finish Step 4, we will start the TOEFL iBT preparation program.
• As long as some troublemakers exist around here , you will not be able to improve your business.

Related Articles:

• Adverb Clause Of Contrast/ Concession 
• Adverb Clause Of Purpose
• How To Use Adverb Clause Of Reason/ Cause?

Exercise 1:

Directions: Complete the following. Pay special attention to verb tenses.

• Last night, I went to bed after I ______________________________my homework.
• Tonight, I will go to bed after I _________________________my homework.
• Ever since I was a child, I ____________________________________ afraid of dogs.
• Jacquie’s contact lens popped out while she _____________________basketball.
• Be sure to reread your composition for errors before you _________________ it in to the teacher tomorrow.
• By the time, I left my apartment this morning, the mail carrier __________________________ the mail.
• I have known my best friend since her _____________________________ ten years old.
• A black cat ran across the road as I ____________________________my car to work this morning.
• By the time I leave this city, I _______________________________ here for four months.
• Whenever Mike __________________________________ angry, his nose gets red.
• I ____________________________ to the beach whenever the weather was nice, but now I do not have time to do that because I have to study.
• We will have a big party when __________________________________.
• The next time I ______________________________to Hawaii, I’m going to visit Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano.
• I had fried chicken the last time I ____________________________ at that restaurant.

Exercise 2:

Directions: Make sentences with until from the given situations.

• I can’t pay my bills. I haven’t gotten my paycheck yet.

        I can’t pay my bills until my paycheck comes.

• We can’t leave yet. We have to wait for Carmen.
• Tell me the truth, or I am not going to leave this room.
• Finally, he arrived. Before that, it had been a dull party.
• Dinner won’t be ready for a while. I think we should just sit here by the fire.
• When I go to bed at night, I like to read. After a while, I get sleepy.

Exercise 3:

Directions: Combine the ideas by using either as soon as or once . ( As soon as and once basically have the same meaning. but as soon as is more immediate. Often, just is used with as soon as to emphasize the idea of “immediately”:

• I’ll call him just as soon as I get home.
• The taxi will get here in five minutes or so. Then we can leave for the airport.

      As soon as the taxi gets here, we can leave for the airport.

• The rice will be done in about ten minutes. Immediately after that, we can eat.
• First, I have to graduate. Then I can return home.
• Spring will come and the weather will be nice again. Then we can start playing tennis every morning before class.
• My roommate walked into the room. Immediately, I knew that something was wrong.
• Your English will get better. Then you will begin to feel more comfortable living in the United States.
• Immediately after the singer finished her song, the audience burst into applause.
• I’m watching a baseball game on TV, but it will be over in a few minutes. Then I’ll take out the garbage.

Exercise 4:

Directions: Using the given information, make a sentence in which you use just after, just before , or just as . Notice that just adds the idea of “immediately.”

• I got to the airport at 8:15. My plane left ten minutes later. I got to the airport just before my plane left.
• You shouldn’t eat a heavy meal and then go to bed immediately afterward.
• I went to bed at 11:00. The phone rang at 11:05.
• We were sitting down to eat. At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
• I was getting on the bus. At that moment, I remembered that I had left my briefcase at home.
• I got up to give my speech. Immediately before that, I got butterflies in my stomach.
• The guests will come at 7:00. At 6:55, I’ll light the candles.
• I was bending over to pick up my pencil. My pants split.

Exercise 1.

• Last night, I went to bed after I did my homework.
• Tonight, I will go to bed after I do my homework.
• Ever since I was a child, I was afraid of dogs.
• Jacquie’s contact lens popped out while she was playing
• Be sure to reread your composition for errors before you give it to the teacher tomorrow.
• By the time I left my apartment this morning, the mail carrier had sent the mail.
• I have known my best friend since she was ten years old.
• A black cat ran across the road as I was driving my car to work this morning.
• By the time I leave this city, I will be here for four months.
• Whenever Mike is angry, his nose gets red.
• I was going to the beach whenever the weather was nice, but now I don’t have time to do that because I have to study.
• We will have a big party when you come .
• The next time I go to Hawaii, I’m going to visit Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano.
• I had fried chicken the last time I was at that restaurant.

Exercise 2.

• I can’t pay my bills until my paycheck comes.
• We can’t leave yet until Carmen come.
• Tell me the truth, until I leave this room.
• Finally, he arrived until it had been a dull party.
• Dinner won’t be ready for a while until we sit here by the fire.
• When I go to bed at night, I like to read until I get sleepy.

Exercise 3.

• As soon as the taxi gets here, we can leave for the airport.
• As soon as the rice is done, after that, we can eat.
• As soon as I graduate, I can return home.
• One the spring comes the weather will be nice again and then we can start playing tennis every morning before class.
• Once my roommate walked into the room immediately, then I knew that something was wrong.
• Once your English gets better, then you will feel more comfortable living in the United States.
• As soon as the singer finished her song, the audience burst into applause.
• I am watching a baseball game on TV, but as soon as it’s over, I’ll take out the garbage.

Exercise 4.

• I got to the airport just before my plane left.
• You shouldn’t go to the bed just after eating a heavy meal.
• I went to the bed just before the phone rang.
• Just as we sat down to eat, someone knocked on the door.
• Just as I got on the bus, I remember that I had left my briefcase at home.
• I got butterflies in my stomach just before I got up to give my speech.
• I will light the candles just before the guests come.
• My pants split just as I bent myself to pick up my pencil.

Conclusion:

Attempt the adverb clause of time exercises, then compare your answers with the given answers above. In addition, please feel free to write your feedback about the article (adverb clause of time) using the comment section below.

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The 10 best apps for ielts exam preparation, present continuous tense active and passive, important english grammar rules for beginners.

Last night, I went to bed after I ______________________________my homework. Tonight, I will go to bed after I _________________________my homework. Ever since I was a child, I ____________________________________ afraid of dogs. Jacquie’s contact lens popped out while she _____________________basketball. Be sure to reread your composition for errors before you _________________ it in to the teacher tomorrow. By the time, I left my apartment this morning, the mail carrier __________________________ the mail. I have known my best friend since her _____________________________ ten years old. A black cat ran across the road as I ____________________________my car to work this morning. By the time I leave this city, I _______________________________ here for four months. Whenever Mike __________________________________ angry, his nose gets red. I ____________________________ to the beach whenever the weather was nice, but now I do not have time to do that because I have to study. We will have a big party when __________________________________. The next time I ______________________________to Hawaii, I’m going to visit Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano. I had fried chicken the last time I ____________________________ at that restaurant.

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How to Finish Your Homework

Last Updated: July 11, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA . Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 282,946 times.

While studying can differ for different age groups, many of the things that get in the way are the same. Whether it's your environment or time management skills, it easy for things to discourage you from finishing your homework. With a little organization and help, your homework can become approachable.

Managing Your Time

• For instance, try setting aside a time you know you can work well such as an hour or 2 before dinner, or if you're a night owl, after dinner.

• Work in hour blocks, with 50 minutes spent studying and 10 minutes spent taking a break.
• It can also be helpful to move around when you are taking your break, especially if you are working at a screen. Go for a walk outside to get your blood circulating and enjoy some fresh air.
• You might also want to eat a healthy snack on your break to improve your focus. Avoid junk food and choose something like a handful of nuts, a piece of fruit, veggies, or a small portion of cottage cheese.

• Identify which assignments are worth the most points for each class. Most likely these will take the longest to complete. [5] X Research source
• Consider how long you have to do each project, and if possible, see when the assignment is introduced. Oftentimes, primary and secondary school classes do not have syllabi, so it might be harder to plan out an entire term, but if you are in college, you will most likely have a syllabus with at least a partial course schedule. Knowing how long you have to complete an assignment will help you prioritize which assignments to do first. You can also ask the teacher how long you have to complete an assignment. [6] X Research source

• Use highlighters or stickers to mark which assignments are most important.
• If you're using an online or mobile schedule, create alerts or notifications for the projects and any time-sensitive steps for those projects.

• Don't let a big project overshadow the smaller assignments you need to complete!

• Assignment outlines can help you visualize the necessary tasks to get the assignment done.

Creating a Productive Work Environment

• A desk or table would be a better location than a couch or a bed.

• Turn your phone off or on silent (not vibrate). It might be best to put the phone out of sight, or in another room while you work, as the temptation to text or get on social media can be as much of a distraction as actually using social media.
• Use an app that blocks social media. There are plenty of applications out there that can help block social media and other distracting sites (such as shopping or gaming sites). [10] X Trustworthy Source Pew Research Center Nonpartisan thinktank conducting research and providing information on public opinion, demographic trends, and social trends Go to source

• Use a white noise app to block out noise.
• Use earplugs or noise-blocking earmuffs. [12] X Research source
• Work in a quiet place, such as a library or a home office, if you have one.
• Avoid listening to music while studying. Studies have shown that although listening to music while studying lowers overall performance, this does not affect everyone equally. [13] X Research source However listening to music before studying has been shown to improve performance on cognitive tasks. [14] X Research source

Using Your Resources

• If you're too afraid to ask a teacher during class, see if you can stay behind to ask your questions.

• First, contact your school to see if there are any after-school tutoring programs. While not all primary and secondary schools offer tutoring, a vast majority of universities do. If your school does not offer tutoring, they may know of other resources for you to contact.
• Then, contact your library to see if they offer any tutoring. [18] X Research source
• In some areas, there may also be free community tutoring programs. Contact your local community center for more information.
• There are plenty of private tutors out there as well, but they can be costly (ranging from $20 to $100 an hour). [19] X Research source You can find tutors online through a number of websites, such as Craigslist or Angie's list.

• If you need to work at a library after school, ask your parents or search the web to find your local library.

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• Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3
• Maintain a healthy diet. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3

• Recommended time doing homework varies by age. The National PTA recommends about 10 minutes per grade level per night (30 minutes a night for the third grade). Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
• Some people may need additional help in order to focus on their homework and finish it. If you are struggling in school, ask your parents or teachers about what resources may be available, and seek out professional help or ask your parents to do so, if necessary. Thanks Helpful 29 Not Helpful 9
• If you are under the age of thirteen, you may need to obtain your parents’ permission before downloading any computer applications. Thanks Helpful 30 Not Helpful 13

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• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
• ↑ https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/power-habit-charles-duhigg
• ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/article/research-tested-benefits-breaks/
• ↑ https://www.wma.us/about/titan-blog/post/~board/titan-blog/post/how-to-prioritize-school-assignments-and-homework
• ↑ https://jhsap.org/self_help_resources/school-life_balance//
• ↑ https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/studying-for-and-taking-exams/guidelines-for-creating-a-study-schedule/
• ↑ https://success.oregonstate.edu/learning/concentration
• ↑ https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/07/28/parenting-children-in-the-age-of-screens/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html/
• ↑ https://absn.northeastern.edu/blog/8-things-to-keep-in-your-at-home-study-space/
• ↑ https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/171/
• ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acp.1731
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/talk-to-parents.html
• ↑ https://rdw.rowan.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2412&context=etd
• ↑ https://blogs.chapman.edu/scst/2016/02/09/what-tutoring-is-and-what-tutoring-is-not/
• ↑ https://undergrad.stanford.edu/tutoring-support

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., 8 easy ways to finish your homework faster.

How many times have you found yourself still staring at your textbook around midnight (or later!) even when you started your homework hours earlier? Those lost hours could be explained by Parkinson’s Law, which states, “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, if you give yourself all night to memorize those geometry formulas for your quiz tomorrow, you’ll inevitably find that a 30 minute task has somehow filled your entire evening.

We know that you have more homework than ever. But even with lots and lots to do, a few tweaks to your study routine could help you spend less time getting more accomplished. Here are 8 steps to make Parkinson’s Law work to your advantage:

1. Make a list

This should be a list of everything that has to be done that evening. And we mean, everything—from re-reading notes from this morning’s history class to quizzing yourself on Spanish vocabulary.

2. Estimate the time needed for each item on your list

You can be a little ruthless here. However long you think a task will take, try shaving off 5 or 10 minutes. But, be realistic. You won’t magically become a speed reader.

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3. Gather all your gear

Collect EVERYTHING you will need for the homework you are working on (like your laptop for writing assignments and pencils for problem sets). Getting up for supplies takes you off course and makes it that much harder to get back to your homework.

The constant blings and beeps from your devices can make it impossible to focus on what you are working on. Switch off or silence your phones and tablets, or leave them in another room until it’s time to take a tech break.

Read More: How to Calculate Your GPA

5. Time yourself

Noting how much time something actually takes will help you estimate better and plan your next study session.

6. Stay on task

If you’re fact checking online, it can be so easy to surf on over to a completely unrelated site. A better strategy is to note what information you need to find online, and do it all at once at the end of the study session.

7. Take plenty of breaks

Most of us need a break between subjects or to break up long stretches of studying. Active breaks are a great way to keep your energy up. Tech breaks can be an awesome way to combat the fear of missing out that might strike while you are buried in your work, but they also tend to stretch much longer than originally intended. Stick to a break schedule of 10 minutes or so.

8. Reward yourself! 

Finish early? If you had allocated 30 minutes for reading a biology chapter and it only took 20, you can apply those extra 10 minutes to a short break—or just move on to your next task. If you stay on track, you might breeze through your work quickly enough to catch up on some Netflix.

Our best piece of advice? Keep at it. The more you use this system, the easier it will become. You’ll be surprised by how much time you can shave off homework just by focusing and committing to a distraction-free study plan.

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