Using 'just'

1. We can use "just" to refer to something which happened only a few minutes before. To do this, use the present perfect tense:

The postman has just been.
I've just phoned the school.

"Just" goes before the auxiliary and the main verb.

You can also use "already" here, although "already" doesn't give the idea that the action happened only very recently.

Because we use "just" to mean only very recently, we can also use it in the past simple with "before":

"We got home just before the rain started."

We can also use "just" to refer to the immediate future. Follow "just" with either "about to" or "going to":

"Don't go out now – we're just about to / we're just going to have lunch.

2. "Just" also means "enough – but with a very small margin".

For example, "I've got just enough time to buy a paper before the train leaves."
(I only have a minute or so – certainly not enough time to buy a paper and a sandwich!)

Exercise: Put these sentences into the correct order.

1. I left / the car keys / realised / just / where / I've
2. just / my book / finished / I've
3. get home / enough / have / petrol / to / we / just
4. I've / her / seen / just
5. finished / before / the lights / the / just / The film / went out
6. earn / to pay / enough / We / just / the bills
7. to / just / call her / I'm / about
8. going / He's / check / just / to

Answers to last English exercise

1. Your trousers are too long.
2. It's a funny film.
3. Who's been to Paris?
4. Their protest against the government will go ahead on Thursday.
5. The ship was lying on its side.
6. Is there any hope of finding survivors?