TOEIC Decision Point

Already vs Yet: Completed Now or Still Waiting

In TOEIC Part 5, already and yet often appear in updates about reports, payments, deliveries, applications, and scheduled work.

The fast choice is not “What is the grammar name?” The fast choice is: has the action happened now, or is it still waiting?

Already = completed sooner or by now. Yet = still waiting, or asking whether it has happened.

The 7-second choice

Look at whether the sentence confirms completion, asks for an update, or says the action has not happened.

Already

The action has happened by now, sometimes earlier than expected: already submitted, already received, already completed.

Yet

The action is still pending, or someone is asking whether it has happened: not approved yet, has it arrived yet?

The signal to remember

Completed now = already. Still pending or asking = yet.

This is the MTC move. Check the status of the action and move on.

The finance team has already approved the payment.
The approval is complete. Choose already.
The finance team has not approved the payment yet.
The approval is still pending. Choose yet.
Has the supplier confirmed the delivery date yet?
The speaker is asking whether confirmation has happened. Choose yet.
The supplier has already confirmed the delivery date.
Confirmation has happened by now. Choose already.

What TOEIC wants you to notice

TOEIC often tests this choice inside short status updates. The business topic may change, but the decision stays the same.

has already arrived / has already been sent
The action is complete.
has not arrived yet / has not been sent yet
The action is still pending.
Have you finished yet?
The speaker asks whether completion has happened.

Watch the sentence shape

The shape of the sentence often gives the answer quickly.

Completion statement

Look for has already, have already, or had already when the action is confirmed as complete.

Pending statement or question

Look for not ... yet or a question asking whether the action has happened.

We have already received the signed agreement.
The agreement is here now.
We have not received the signed agreement yet.
The agreement is still missing.

Under pressure, ask one question: complete, or still waiting?

Quick TOEIC check

Choose first. Then read the feedback. Use the one-second check: completed now, or still pending?

1. The revised schedule has ___ been sent to all department heads.

2. The maintenance company has not provided a cost estimate ___.

3. Has the client returned the signed contract ___?

4. Ms Tanaka has ___ completed the online training, although it was assigned only yesterday.

The mistake fast readers make

Fast readers often translate both words as a vague “by now” idea and miss whether the sentence confirms completion or shows that the action is still pending.

Weak choice

Choose from memory because both words seem connected to the present situation.

Better choice

Check the action status: complete, not complete, or asking?

Why this mistake returns under pressure

Japanese can express both ideas through context and different sentence endings. In English, the test-taker must notice whether the sentence is confirming, denying, or asking about completion.

Do not translate the whole sentence twice. Find the completion signal.

1-second tool: complete by now = already. Still pending or asking = yet.
Related practice

Continue building fast time decisions

These related pages also train the test-taker to identify the timeline and current status without overthinking.

Read Used To vs Be Used To Read Remember Doing vs Remember To Do Take the Part 5 Checkpoint
Next step

Use small TOEIC mistakes as a diagnostic

If you understand the answer during review but miss it under time pressure, the problem may be your decision pattern rather than the words alone.

Start with the Learning Block Diagnostic to see whether your mistakes connect to Speed Trap, Memoriser, Over Thinker, Translator, Passive Listener, or Burnout.

Take the Learning Block Diagnostic Find Your TOEIC Plan Browse the Strategy Library

Continue reading

Use these pages to turn small TOEIC mistakes into faster decisions and better review.

Back to top TOEIC Strategy Library Anchor Drills Learning Block Diagnostic TOEIC Plan Finder Used To vs Be Used To Remember Doing vs Remember To Do Try Doing vs Try To Do Part 5 Checkpoint