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ONLY AFTER, ONLY IF, ONLY IN THIS WAY etc., NOT UNTIL

When only after, only if, only in this way etc. are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:

Only after lunch can you play . (You can only play after lunch.)

Only after finishing your homework can you play . (You can only play after you finish your homework.)

Only after you have finished your homework can you play . (You can only play after you have finished your homework.)

Only by guessing can you solve this puzzle. (You can only solve this puzzle by guessing.)

Only if everybody agreed would I accept this position. (I would only accept this position if everybody agreed.)  

Only in this way does this machine work . (This machine only works in this way.)

Only then did they discover his secret. (They only discovered his secret then.)

Only when he needed some help did he call me. (He only called me when he needed some help.)

Only when I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I only noticed that my glass was broken when I filled it.)

The last sentence can be rephrased as:

Not until I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I didn't notice that my glass was broken until I filled it.)

If only is followed by the subject at the beginning of the sentence, there is no inversion:

Only you can understand. (No one else can understand.)

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First Conditional: Examples, Sentences, Exercises

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When do we use the first conditional?

We use the first conditional to talk about results of possible future conditions. Here are some example sentences:

• If it’s sunny tomorrow, I’ll go to the beach.
• If it rains tomorrow, I’ll stay home.
• If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.
• If you finish your chores, you can watch TV.
• If we don’t get to the airport on time, we’ll miss our flight.
• If he doesn’t call me soon, I’ll send him a text message.
• If you save money, you’ll be able to afford that new phone.
• If the restaurant isn’t too crowded, we’ll have dinner there tonight.

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Parts of a first conditional sentence

There are two parts to a first conditional sentence:

• the condition (sometimes called the “if clause”)
• the result  (sometimes called the “main clause”)

It is possible to reverse the condition and the result, with no change in meaning:

• If you don’t study, you’ll fail.
• = You’ll fail if you don’t study.
• If I wake up early enough tomorrow, I’m going to make a big breakfast.
• = I’m going to make a big breakfast if I wake up early enough tomorrow.

Note that when the “if clause” (condition) comes first in the sentence, we use a comma after it. However, when the result comes first in the sentence, then we don’t use a comma between the two clauses.

How to form the first conditional

Pay close attention to the correct verb forms in the condition and result:

CONDITION:  if + subject + present simple

• If we go to the party tomorrow,
• If you don’t leave work soon,
• If she gets promoted,
• If he doesn’t read the textbook,

RESULT:  subject + simple future (will / won’t, going to / not going to)

• we’ll have a good time.
• you’ll get stuck in rush hour traffic.
• she’s going to earn more money.
• he won’t understand the class.

Even though BOTH events are in the future, we always use the simple present  in the condition (“if-clause”).

Avoid the common error of using the simple future in the condition:

• If we will go to the party tomorrow, we’ll have a good time.
• If we  go  to the party tomorrow, we’ll have a good time.
• If it won’t rain tonight, I’ll go for a walk.
• If it doesn’t rain tonight, I’ll go for a walk.

Both the condition and the result can be positive or negative (with “not”):

• If you take the train, you ‘ll get there faster. (positive condition – positive result)
• If you don’t take the train, you ‘ll have to drive. (negative condition – positive result)
• If you take the train, you won’t get stuck in traffic. (positive condition – negative result)
• If you don’t take the train, you won’t need to buy a train ticket. (negative condition – negative result)

First Conditional Quiz

Variations in first conditional sentences, alternative words to “if” in the condition.

It is possible to use other words instead of  if  in the “condition” part of first conditional sentences:

Let’s study each case separately.

WHEN: When the “condition” will definitely happen in the future.

Look at the difference between these two sentences:

• If I see Sam, I’ll give him your message. (I’m not sure if I will see him or not)
• When I see Sam, I’ll give him your message. (I will definitely see Sam)

AS SOON AS: To emphasize immediacy.

• My feet hurt! As soon as I get home, I’m going to take off these high heels.
• As soon as we have enough money saved, we’ll take a vacation to Costa Rica. We can’t wait!
• I’ll respond to your e-mail as soon as I can.

UNLESS: Substitute for “if not.”

• You won’t lose any weight unless you start eating healthier food. = You won’t lose any weight if  you  don’t start eating healthier food.
• I’m not going to dance unless somebody invites me. = I’m not going to dance if somebody doesn’t invite me.
• Unless there’s an emergency at work, I’ll be home on time. = If there’s not an emergency at work, I’ll be home on time.

Alternative words to will / going to in the result

Instead of will / going to, we can use modal verbs like can, might, could, or  should . Compare these two sentences:

• If you go out in the rain, you  will  get wet. (100% certain)
• If you apply for that university, you might/could be accepted. (not 100% certain)

Use  can  in the result of first conditional sentences to give permission / prohibition:

• If you finish your homework, you can watch TV for an hour.
• If you don’t have a ticket, you can’t get into the theater.

Use might/ could  to express a possibility that is not a certainty:

• If he gets home from work early, we could go for a walk before dinner.
• If you try to lift that heavy weight, you  might  hurt yourself.

Use  should  to give advice if the condition happens:

• If your toothache doesn’t get better soon, you should  see a dentist.
• If they go to New York next week, they  should visit the Statue of Liberty.

First Conditional vs. Other Conditionals

First conditional vs. zero conditional.

The zero conditional describes GENERAL truths and facts. Both the condition and result are in the simple present:

• When it rains, the ground gets wet. (it is a general fact/truth)
• If I’m late to school, the teacher always yells at me. (this ALWAYS happens)

The first conditional describes a specific event that will/might happen in the future IF a future condition happens. The condition is in the simple present tense, and the result is in the simple future tense:

• If it rains tomorrow, I’m going to stay home.
• If I’m late to school today, I’ll miss an important test.

First Conditional vs. Second Conditional and Third Conditional

Both the second conditional and third conditional describe IMAGINARY situations.

In the second conditional , we are imagining the result if the present were different:

• If I were a millionaire, I would buy a sports car. (but the reality is that I AM NOT a millionaire, so I’m not buying that car)

In the third conditional, we are imagining the result if the past had been different:

• If I had taken the earlier train, I would have gotten to work on time. (but the reality is that I DID NOT take the earlier train, so I did not get to work on time)

The first conditional describes REAL future results/possibilities that will happen if the condition happens. Compare these conditional sentences:

• First conditional: If I have some free time this weekend, I will read a book. (it’s a real possibility that I’ll have some free time and read a book)
• Second conditional:  If I had more free time, I would take dance classes. (this is just imaginary – the reality is that I don’t have much free time, so I’m not taking dance classes)
• Third conditional:  If I ‘d had more free time yesterday, I would have cleaned the house. (imaginary – the reality is that I didn’t have free time yesterday, so I didn’t clean the house)

Learn more about the first conditional with this tutorial

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Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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English Conditional Sentences — Zero and First Conditionals with Examples [Updated]

Nov 11, 2020 | Conditionals in English , Grammar , Modal Verbs

This lesson on the Zero and First Conditional in English has been updated. The original lesson on this topic was published in November 2015.

Have you memorized the formulas for English conditional sentences but still feel confused about how and when to use them?

That’s understandable. Learning the formulas is a good start but to use them easily (and correctly) it’s important to understand exactly how we use conditionals in English conversation.

That’s what you’ll get in today’s Confident English lesson.

With today’s focus on Zero and First Conditionals, you’ll get practical examples of how to use English conditional sentences to share:

Probabilities

Future Consequences

Promises and Warnings

Most English classes and grammar books teach you the basic rules of conditionals, such as: If + present simple + will + infinitive

Again, that can be useful. But it doesn’t help you understand how to really use conditionals in your daily English life. This lesson will.

Don’t forget to review the other lessons in this series:

• Part 2: Second Conditionals in English

Zero vs. First Conditional in English

• When I’m too tired to cook, I order take-out. (zero conditional)
• If I’m too tired to cook tonight, I’ll order some take-out. (first conditional)

These two sentences are very similar but there is a difference in meaning between the two – can you identify the difference?

Read the sentences again and answer:

• Which one is a general truth?
• Which one is a likely probability?

If you’re not sure, let’s take a closer look at the Zero and First Conditional to help you answer those questions.

How to Use the Zero Conditional in English

Expressing General Truths

We can use the Zero Conditional to show or express a general truth. To do this, we use the Present Simple in both clauses. For example:

• If you heat ice, it melts.

That is a truth. Plain and simple.

Tip: With the Zero Conditional, we often replace “if” with “when.” For example:

• When/If I drink too much coffee, I get a headache.

Talking About Routines

We can also use this Zero Conditional structure to talk about our routines. Routines are things that we do regularly. For example:

• When I wake up, I always drink coffee first.
• When he goes to work, he rides his bicycle.
• When I arrive in the morning, I check my email first.

Can you think of some similar examples? Share them in the comments below.

How to Use the First Conditional in English

Can you predict – with 100% certainty – what will happen tomorrow? Do you always know exactly what will happen in the future? Probably not (but if you can – please tell me! I’d love to know the future!). 🙂

Okay. So we can’t tell the future with 100% certainty but we can express that we think something is very likely to happen or is probable.

And for this, we use the First Conditional. This form shows us something is likely in the future or very likely in the future based on a present situation or event.

Another helpful way to think of this is a REAL situation or event. Sometimes we refer to the First Conditional as the Real Conditional. Let’s look at an example:

• If it snows a lot tomorrow (present situation), the city will cancel school (future probability).

We are not 100% certain that the city will cancel school, but it is likely. We use the future tense (-the city will cancel school) to show that we are talking about a probable result in the future and it is a real. Here are two more examples:

• If it rains tomorrow, I will not go on my hike.
• If we complete this project under budget, the customer will be thrilled.

Sometimes a present situation or event can have a future consequence. These consequences may be positive or negative, for example:

• Pizza sounds amazing for dinner! But if I eat it, I’ll feel terrible about it in the morning. → the future, negative consequence is I’ll feel terrible about it
• Sure, salads seem boring sometimes. But if I eat something healthy, I’ll sleep better. → a future, positive consequence.
• If you develop an effective self-care routine , you will be able to manage stress and anxiety better.
• If we don’t complete this project on time, the boss will be furious. → no one likes to make her boss angry… definitely a future, negative consequence.
• If you cook dinner tonight, I will do the dishes. (promise)
• I will do all my homework now if you let me stay up late. (promise – imagine a child saying this to a parent)
• If you do that one more time, I won’t let you go to the party tomorrow night! (warning — imagine a parent upset with her child about something)
• If you don’t pay your invoice immediately, we will cancel your subscription. (warning)

The First Conditional is great for making promises to others or giving a warning.

Above I used the example warning: If you don’t pay your invoice immediately, we will cancel your subscription. This is warning to a client or customer. It is also a much more professional way to say: Pay now!

Here are more workplace examples:

• If the apartment becomes vacant, the owner will (likely) lose 2-3 months of payment. (warning)
• If we don’t complete this project on time, we will lose our client to our competition. (warning)
• If you reduce your price by 7%, we will sign the contract. (promise – could be used in bargaining or negotiating)
• We will compromise on the costs if you agree to our terms of service. (promise – again this could be used in bargaining or negotiating)

After you’ve watched the video and reviewed the lesson, I’d love to hear from you!

Think about your daily life – either your personal life or business life – and answer these questions.

• What truths or routines can you share using the Zero Conditional?
• What probabilities, consequences, promises or warnings can you use for work or for your daily life with the First Conditional?

Write down a couple examples in the comments section to practice. I will be sure to provide you with feedback.

Have a great week! – Annemarie

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Zero conditional: when the winter season turns into the spiring, all the ice covering on the rivers melts. wnen I start traveling, I always reserve hotels in advance.

First conditional: If my sister comes and stays with mom, I will go back to my own home. If the pandemic gets worse, everyone will be required to wear mask at anywhere.

If someone parks his or her car out of a park lot, he or she will get ticket.

Bravo! These are wonderful examples of the Zero and First Conditional forms.

• Zero Conditional: When I get to work, I switch my computer on and enter the password for the safe.
• First Conditional: If I develop a successful self-care routine, I will be in a fit form and maintain healthy weight.
• FC – promise/ warning: If you help me with the household chores, I will buy you an ice cream./ If you do not help me with the household chores, I will not buy you an ice cream.

When I reach office, I say hello everyone there one by one. If I don’t finish plot in its dedicated time, I will get a deficeincy in ISO survey. I said my niece, If you dont sleep soo, you will not wake up early, so you will loose chance of camp experience with your friends.

1) If You _____ what ____ You ____? 2) Daniel _____ his homework if he_______ it now. 3) what _____ Richard _____ ir the _______ to college 4) If I ______ tonight, I _____ TV instead

Great website! Thank you for an easy to understand lesson on conditionals. Here are my examples.

When I go to bed late at night, it is difficult for me to wake up on time and feel rested. If it rains tomorrow, I will skip my morning walk. If I am tired after work, I will stay in and order dinner. If I don’t do laundry today, I will not have clean clothes to wear for work tomorrow.

I look forward to your feedback!

Hey, Annemarie , I’ve just finished the three videos on using conditional in real life . But I have a question about it . “There could be no doubt that if she were to speak, she would say nothing complimentary to Anna Mihalovna” Does this sentence indicates she isn’t likely to speak ?

When I do homework, I listen my favorite music like Queen or Dire Straits or Alex Baroni. If I drink too coffee in the afternoon, I don’t sleep tonitht. If the client will be late, the session will be too short for optimize our results.

Good examples, Cinzia. With example 2, there’s one little change we want to make. We have two options: 1. “If I drink too much coffee in the afternoon, I ____ sleep tonight.” Because of the word ‘tonight’ we’re talking about the future. In that case, we need to make a change to the negative form. Do you know what it might be? 2. If we want to keep ‘don’t’ then we have to remove the word ‘tonight’ to show that this is something that happens consistently. So it would be, “If I drink too much coffee in the afternoon, I …  Read more »

-When I come home after work, I take a shower. -If the crisis of covid continue, I will lose my job. -If you don’t clean your room, you will be punished.

Good examples with the zero and first conditional forms, Zeinab.

Zero Conditional… 1. When I wear face mask, I get skin irritation. 2. When I arrived home from work, I prepare our dinner right away.

First Conditional… 1. If the Covid cases increases, the government will implement a lockdown. 2. If we create a systematic approach, it will be easier for us accomplish the task faster. 3. If you graduate with honour, I will buy you a new car. 4. If you come home late again, you will be grounded.

Wow, wonderful examples for both zero and first conditionals, Cez! Nicely done.

how is the negative form from… If I´m late for dinner, start eating without me. Please, somebody help me.

Hi Karla, your sentence “If I’m late for dinner…” works perfectly well. However, if you want to tell them not to eat before you arrive, you could say, “If I’m late for dinner, please don’t start without me.”

1. When I bake snacks,I make it for the next whole week. 2. If I am all done with my work before evening, we will go for a walk. 3. If you do yoga everyday for few minutes, you will have healthy body and mind. 4. If you finish your lunch early, I will let you watch your favorite TV show.

Wonderful examples, Joya! Nicely done.

1) When I get enough sleep, I generally feel more energized and productive the next day. 2) If I don’t prioritize and organize my tasks, I wont be able to meet any deadlines.

Hi Siti. Thank you for your comment. I love your examples, and the first one is so true about me. If I don’t have enough sleep or poor quality of sleep, I’ll feel tired and unfocused. Well done!

Hi Annemarie! As always, I compliment you on this great lesson!! 👏 About my routine: When I start my workday, I always check my “to do list” so as not to forget anything important. About consequences: If we don’t stick to anti-covid regulations, the amount of infections won’t decrease. About probability: If I spread myself to thin, I will be really worn out in the evening About promises (for my child 😊): If you will play nice, there will be a great surprise for you tonight!!

Hi Vania. Thank you for sharing your examples with us. We’re glad to hear the lesson was useful for you. And your kid is lucky. I still love surprises!

1)When our children come to see us, we always sit down for a cup of coffee at first. 2) If the anti- corona vaccination gets on the market quickly, we’ll be able to have a more care-free life again. 3) If I tidy up the house immediately, I will have more time for reading.

Oh, fantastic examples, Marianne! You used the zero and first forms perfectly. Nicely done. More time for reading is certainly a good motivation to get things cleaned up. 😊

Thank you Annemarie very much for your excellent lessons, they’re very educational and helpful. -If you continue your school, you see your progress. (General truth) -When I get your weekly lessons, I always feel thrilled. (routine) -If the weather is good tomorrow, I will go to the park for a walk. (probability) -If you follow your trainer’s advice, you will get benefits from it. (Positive consequence) If you don’t work hard on your goal, you will not get better results. (negative consequence) -If you vacuum, I will do the laundry. (Promise) -If you don’t care about your school, I will …  Read more »

Great work, Nasrin! I love these examples and you got them exactly right. Just for a challenge, in this example can you think of another way or a synonym to use for the words ‘not get better’: “If you don’t work hard on your goal, you will get ____________ results.”

Thanks Annemarie for the feedback, that’s so good to understand my mistakes and redo it. How about this sentence: “If you don’t work hard on your goal, you will get minimum results.”

Hi Annemarie,

If I wake up late, I haven’t breakfast. If I go to work tomorrow, I’ll not go to the party with you.

Great, Deise. Thanks for sharing your examples. There’s one change we want to make in the first sentence. In the second part, there is a negative and for that we need a helping verb in English: “If I wake up late, I _____ not have breakfast.”

• When I connect my laptop in the morning to telecommuting the first thing I do is clock in.
• If I read more in English, I will learn more vocabulary and expressions
• If I finish my project by Friday, my boss will be thrilled

Wonderful examples, Marta! And I hope you get your project finished. 😊

I will join you in the park if I finish my homework / when I finish my homework I will join you in the park. If she explains the situation well I will let her go with her boyfriend If I do 30 min. Exercises everyday, I will have a better health If you finish your homework on time I will allow you to watch your favorite show on TV for 30min If you don’t finish the vegetables in your plate, you won’t allowed to eat ice cream later for dessert If you don’t do your chores you won’t get …  Read more »

When I wake up early I join the 6am yoga class online.

When I finish my goals I feel satisfied

Hi Annemarie, here it is my homework……

If I don’t run early in the morning, I become angry and nervous When I listen to ANnemarie’s lessons with more concentration, I’ll improve my English rapidly If I don’t do the simple things well, I won’t be able to get the world better

Best Tommaso

If you finish succesfully the project on time, you will be promoted as Project Director.

Hi Annemarie, me too hated math, my mind was more creative than rational, so i imagined the numbers like little spiteful goblins 😉 Anyway,these are my examples: 1) When fall comes, the leaves fall 2) If I cook lasagna for dinner, my husband will be happy 3) If you go out without your coat, you will get a cold

Thank you so much for this possibility to understand and put into practice these two types of conditional <3

If I apply all that you teach in English, I will be easily fluent in speaking English.

Okay! If I don’t finish my homework today, I can’t have my relaxtime tonight! When I wake up in the morning, I have meditation time. If it will raining again, I will not go to visit Central Park in this afternoon.

Great examples, Cinzia! One little note, “If it will raining…” For the first conditional we want to use “If + present simple” so what adjustment could make to the verb?

Great, but there’s a mistake in the second example:

• “If I’m too tired to cook tonight, I’ll some take-out. (first conditional)”

Zero Conditional: When the climb is hot, i like to go to the beach First Conditional: If i don’ t go to the job tomorrow, i will study english and watch some series.

Thanks for this great post. I think, in your last example: “We will compromise on the costs if you will agree to our terms of service.”, there is an extra will

Thank you! you helped me alot

We are so glad to hear that! You are very welcome!

Hi ! thanks a lot for your help . I would like to know if it’s possible to say “If I put water on fire it may stop burning . Instead of will can we put ” may” or “can” . Here , I mean just a cup of water on a fire

Hellooooo!!! I am very sorry. I got problem with my smart phone, but, “better late than never”. Sorry to me.

According to this amazing lesson, this is what I can share with you: – If I get money, I will travel to England. – If you go slowly, you will arrive safely – If he takes care of this car, he will go to India

Thanks so much for sharing your examples, Felix! I’m glad the lesson was useful to you. Well done!

Dear Annemarie, Thank you for your great job about how we can use conditionals in our daly English practise. I’m happy to repeat some grammar too. Here are my sentences. General truth: If the architect makes mistakes, the hause collapses. If the teacher places higher expectations on students, they will rise in occasion and excell in school. Talking about routins: If time permits, I go to work by bike. First conditional-probability: If it hails tomorow, all the sidewalk will slide. If it real happens, some of the passengers will meet with accident, and the casualty wards will be crowded. Future …  Read more »

Thanks so much for sharing your examples, András. And I’m glad the lesson was useful to you!!

Could you clarify what you mean by “If it real happens…” –> I’m not sure what might happen here.

Best, Annemarie

If it hails tomorow, all the sidewalk will slide. If it really happens, some of the passengers will meet with accident, and the casualty wards will be crowded. So is better? The second sentence refers to the first eventuality. 🙂 Andras

Ah, that you for clarifying. As sidewalk cannot slide, but people can slide on a sidewalk. We would say, “If it hails tomorrow, people might slide (we more often use the word “slip”) and fall on the sidewalk. It is the fall that may cause an injury.

Dear Annemarie, thank you a lot for great lesson and especially for workplace examples. My zero conditional is: When I get up early in the morning I make a cup of cofee When I work hard I receive better result My first conditional is: If you send me full package of documents we will receive the products on time If I take into account all requests I will make a profitable deal

Excellent. It seems like you’ve understand the difference between the Zero and First Conditionals with your examples. Well done. And thank you for sharing! ~ Annemarie

Hello Yulia,

Excellent examples using the zero and first conditionals. Just one note: don’t forget to use the comma. That is an important punctuation to use in conditionals. Where would you put a comma in your examples?

If you sit up very late, you feel sleep-deprived next day.

When my uncle break his leg, he has cast put on.

Anna will go to work earlier if her mother dismisses her from some of the morning assignments.

Their acquaintances will go through a rough patch if they change their attitude to certain issues.

I won’t help you if you don’t stop being so mean.

Hello Anetta, Thank you for sharing your examples! I love the last example as a warning. A few notes: 1. With sentences 3 and 4, I understand that you feel these situations are likely since you’re using the first conditional. Is that correct? If you feel they are unlikely, then we would switch to the second conditional. 2. The phrasal verb “sit up” means to sit with your back very straight. I think you might mean to “stay up” which means to stay up past one’s normal bedtime. 3. With sentence 2, this sounds like something that happened only one …  Read more »

your generosity is uncountable, you are doing really great job. You have taken the level of my english to another stage, I am smitten to your leasons. Thanks abundanly keep up the great job……..

Zero conditionals: if i dont play football, i get bored if i sleep long, i became very tired…

First conditionals: If I struggle hard, I will be successful in life. If I read your leasons always, I will be great in english language like I wish.

Thank you for your lessons, first of all 🙂

I would like to share some sentences from my daily life 🙂

Zero sentences maybe could be these:

I sleep more, when Saturday comes. If I come sleep late, I am tired in the morning.

First sentences:

If I work harder, I will earn more money. I will got with you to the theater, if you ask me. 🙂

Dear Rasa – Thank you so much for your comments. I am thrilled you enjoy the online lessons. Great examples of the zero and first conditional! For “If I come to sleep late, I am tired in the morning.” –> We use the verb “go to” with sleep. We can say, “If I go to sleep late, I am tired in the morning.” This is a good example of a personal truth. Great job! Your examples for the first conditional are perfect. These are great examples of: Truth: If I work harder … Promise: I will go with you to …  Read more »

What you are doing here is amazing!!! Your effort and your way to teach are incredible. Thanks a lot!!! It works, perfectly works for me! What I want to learn is -hopefully you have in next sessions- that “how to be kind to your friends and also to professional connections.” For me it is a bit challenging to express myself as a kind person in English in a casual way and in a professional way. Because it is enough just to change the tone of voice to be king in my native language (Turkish). I am looking forward to seeing …  Read more »

Not to be king but to be kind 🙂

Dear Bahar –

What a kind and generous comment! Thank you so much. I am really happy to know you find these lessons useful.

I love your suggestion! It is a very interesting topic for many people I think. How we express kindness or politeness can be very different among languages and cultures. I will certainly add it to my list for future lessons! Would it be ok to email you with some questions to make sure I provide the best answer for you?

Thanks so much Bahar!

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How to Finish Your Homework

Last Updated: March 2, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA . Emily Listmann is a private tutor in San Carlos, California. 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. There are 17 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 280,383 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.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

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Reader Videos

Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

• Don't feel too stressed or you'll be doing less work than you actually can. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 2
• Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2
• Maintain a healthy diet. Thanks Helpful 4 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
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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
• ↑ https://www.ideaedu.org/idea-notes-on-instruction/encouraged-students-to-use-multiple-resources-e-g-internet-library-holdings-outside-experts-to-improve-understanding/

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• B1-B2 grammar

Present perfect: 'just', 'yet', 'still' and 'already'

Do you know how to use just , yet , still and already with the present perfect? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how just , yet , still and already are used.

I've just seen Sai. He's really enjoying his new job. We haven't decided what to do yet. I still haven't called Yumi to see how she is. I've already had lunch but I'll join you for coffee.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

'just', 'yet', 'still' and 'already': Grammar test 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

We often use just , yet , still and  already with the present perfect because they are related to the present moment. This page focuses on the meaning and use of these words when they are used with the present perfect.

Just used with the present perfect means 'a short time before'.

I've just seen Susan coming out of the cinema. Mike's just called. Can you ring him back, please? Have you just taken my pen?!

Just comes between the auxiliary verb ( have/has ) and the past participle.

Yet used with the present perfect means 'at any time up to now'. We use it to emphasise that we expect something to happen soon. Yet (in this context) is only used in negative sentences and questions.

Have you finished your homework yet? I haven't finished it yet. I'll do it after dinner. A. Where's Sam? B: He hasn't arrived yet.

Yet comes at the end of the sentence or question.

Still used with the present perfect means that something hasn't happened. We use it to emphasise that we expected the thing to happen earlier. Still (in this context) is only used in negative sentences.

I've been waiting for an hour and the bus still hasn't come. They promised me that report yesterday but they still haven't finished it. She still hasn't replied to my email. Maybe she's on holiday.

Still comes between the subject ( the bus, they, etc.) and auxiliary verb ( haven't/hasn't ).

Already used with the present perfect means 'before now'. We use it to emphasise that something happened before something else or earlier than expected.

I've already spent my salary and it's two weeks before payday. He wanted to see Sudden Risk but I've already seen it. The train's left already!

Already can come between the auxiliary and the main verb or at the end of the clause.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

'just', 'yet', 'still' and 'already': Grammar test 2

Language level

Hello, Could you tell me the difference in meaning between these two sentence? I just moved in I've just moved in

• Log in or register to post comments

Hello Khangvo2812,

Generally, we use the present perfect ( I have moved in ) when an action in the past (moving in) has a present result or effect (here I am/I'm your new neighbour). We use the past simple ( I moved in ) when an action is solely in the past without any present echo.

However, for very recent actions in the past with just there is a difference in British and American English. British English speakers tend to use the present perfect with just while American speakers often us the past simple instead. I would say that that is the main difference here. A British English speaker would choose the second sentence, while an American English speaker would be more likely to choose the first.

You can read more about the present perfect and past simple here:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/past-simple-or-present-perfect

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/activities-for-learners/b1g003-past-simple-and-present-perfect

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi, team! Can you please clarify why we use "yet" and present perfect tense (we have been to the restaurant...) in the last sentence? As far as i know "yet" mostly used in negetive and questions with present perfect tense. The context is following: B: I ate sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday. He invited the whole family to a Japanese restaurant. A: Did you like it? B: Absolutely. In fact, it was so good that we have been to that restaurant three times yet. And on my mum's birthday, we ordered some sushi and had it at home.

Hello Babanova,

That does not look like a correct use of 'yet' to me. I would use 'already' or 'since then'.

Hello, I think your website is good but it's better to have more practices and tests because for example when we've just studied grammer,we need many perfect tests and challenge to overcome over the grammer subject. We also need advance grammer , if you could add to this site,please. Thank you

Hello mr_bahrami2011,

Thanks for your feedback. There are quite a few advanced grammar points covered in our English grammar reference . There are also usually more exercises on those pages.

I'm also pleased to say that we are working on a C1 grammar and hope to publish it here soon.

You might also want to consider some of the options in our Online courses section if you'd like more in-depth work.

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hello I think this is a real good place to learn English, but I am new here I can't find the worksheet in grammar B1 section.

Hello samayullah,

We're glad you found LearnEnglish!

Most of our site has worksheets, but I'm afraid our Grammar and Vocabulary sections do not. One day we'd like to create them, but at the moment it's simply too much work for our small team.

Hi there, I hope you are fine, and doing well. I, personally, think that this is the best website for English learners. However, I have a feedback which is what if you share a video with the grammar lessons, this way I think we will better learn each lesson.

Hi johny-jan,

Thanks for your message! We're always glad to hear that people find LearnEnglish useful and are happy to get suggestions.

That's a great idea about video lessons for grammar. We did a series of webinars on different grammar points which you can find in General English > LearnEnglish webinars .

There are also quite a lot of resources focusing on grammar on our Facebook page  that I expect you might find useful. 

I hope you find something useful there too!

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish Team

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Past simple or present perfect?

Choose past simple or present perfect to complete the sentences below..

1 Did you finish Have you finished painting the bedroom yet?' 'Not yet. I'll finish it tomorrow.'

2 I haven't earned didn't earn much last year, but I 've earned earned  a lot this year.

3 Did you have Have you had a holiday recently?

4 We arrived have arrived last week. We have been were here for 5 days.

5 Mr. Barnes is very important in this company. He worked has worked  here for 30 years.

6 He loves gardening. He was has been a gardener all his life.

7 Did you see Have you seen  anything like this before?

8 This is the most delicious dish I ever ate have ever eaten .

9 I 've never seen never saw him behave like this before.

10 My mother grew up has grown up  in Scotland.

Present perfect – Form

Download full-size image from pinterest, short forms.

• has= ‘s
• have= ‘ve
• have not= haven’t 

Note that short forms are not used in positive short answers .

Present perfect – Use

Summary chart, past events when time is not mentioned.

We use the present perfect to talk about past actions or events when time is not mentioned , i.e. we don’t say  when these events happened.

• I ‘ve broken my arm.
• I ’ve passed the exam.
• She ’s found a job.

Just already, yet

We often use the present perfect with just ,   already and yet . We can use  just after the verb have  to emphasise that these events are very recent.

• Tony has just called .  

We use already in positive sentences to talk about actions that we have completed sooner than we expected . Already goes after the verb  have .

• I ‘ve already finished my homework. 

We use yet in negative sentences  and questions  to talk about things that we expect to happen soon.  Yet goes at the end of the sentence.

• Have you finished your homework yet ?
• I haven’t finished my homework yet . 

We often use the present perfect with  recently  to talk about past recent actions.

• They ‘ve recently bought a new car.  

Today, this week, this month, this year

We can use the present perfect with time expressions when the time we mention has not finished.

• I ‘ve seen John today . (=Today has not finished.)
• Has she called you this week ?

Past experiences –  never, ever, before

We use the present perfect to talk about past experiences when we don’t say  or we don’t know  when  something happened.

• He  has been  to the moon. He’s an astronaut.
• I  haven’t been  to India.

Never, ever, before

We often use the words  never, ever,  or  before  to talk about experiences.

• I ‘ve never read  this book.
• Have  you  ever seen a John Wayne film?
• I  haven’t experienced  anything like this  before .

The best thing I’ve ever done

We can use the present perfect simple with a superlative adjective and  ever .

• This is the  best  meal I ’ve ever had .
• It’s the  most amazing  place we ’ve ever travelled  to.

How many times

We can also use the present perfect to say how many times something has happened until now.

• I’ve watched this film three times . 
• We’ve been to Paris twice . 

Have gone to or have been to ?

We say someone has gone somewhere when this person is still away, and we say someone has been somewhere when this person has already come back from that place.

• Tom has gone to Ireland. He’ll be there for a couple of weeks.  (=He’s in Ireland now.)
• We have been to Ireland three times. We love it.  (=We are not in Ireland now.)

Duration from the past until now –  for, since

We can use the present perfect with for , since and how long to ask or talk about situations that started in the past and have not finished .

• We ‘ve been married for 25 years. 
• I ‘ve had this watch since I was a kid. 
• How long have you been friends?
• We ‘ve been married for 20 years. (=We are married now)
• We were married for 20 years. Then we divorced. (We are not married now)

For + period of time; since + moment in the past

We use for  + period of time ( two hours, three days, ten years, etc .), and we use since  + the moment in the past when something started.

• I’ve been here for hours . 
• She’s been my teacher for three years . 
• I’ve been unemployed since May . 
• I’ve lived in this town since I was born . 

Lately, all morning/day/year/etc.

We can also use the present perfect with  lately or with  all + period of time ( all day, all morning, all my life, etc .) to talk about actions that started in the past and continue in the present.

• She’s been with me all day . 
• I’ve been very busy lately . 

Don’t use ago

We can’t use  ago with the present perfect .

When did it happen?

We use the present perfect (NOT past simple) to talk about past experiences and actions when we don’t say  or don’t know  when  they happened.

• I ’ve lost my keys.
• We ‘ve been to a very nice restaurant.

We use the  past simple  (NOT present perfect) when we mention or ask about when something happened  or when the time is known by the speaker and the listener. We often use a past expression ( last week, yesterday, when I was a child, etc .)

Giving details in the past simple

We use the present perfect to introduce a past event or experience, but if we continue talking and we give details, then we use the past simple .

A: I ‘ve been to the cinema. B: What did you see ? A: I saw a very good film by…

A: Oh, you ‘ve broken your arm. B: Yes, I have . A: How did it happen ?

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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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When you finish with your homework

• Thread starter dwni
• Start date Jul 30, 2023

Senior Member

• Jul 30, 2023

Hello! I read that conjunctions can join words, prases and clauses. 1 Is a clause the same as a sentence? 2 For example, 1 When you finish with your homework on monday, go outside to eat out. 2 When I finished with my home last monday, I went outside to eat out, Are these sentences okay? Can 'When you finish with your homework on monday' and 'When I finished with my home last monday' be subordinate clauses?  

dwni said: 1 Is a clause the same as a sentence? Click to expand...

dwni said: Can 'When you finish with your homework on monday' and 'When I finished with my home last monday' be subordinate clauses? Click to expand...

What are the errors?  

Going outside usually means going into the street of yard/garden. Eating out usually refers to eating in a restaurant. They are two unrelated things.  

dwni said: What are the errors? Click to expand...

• Jul 31, 2023

Thank you very much! I noticed them I paid closer attention to them. 1 What is the difference between a clause and a sentence? Can clauses contain prepositions of time, dates, years and so on?  

A sentence is one independent clause (and maybe some dependent clauses). So sentences consist entirely of clauses.  

• Aug 5, 2023

Hello! For example, 1 When you finish with your homework on monday morning. 2 When I finished with my homework last monday, They are dependent clauses. Don't they? Do they become independent ones when I remove 'when'? For example, 1 You finish with your homework on monday morning. 2 I finished with my homework last monday,  

• Aug 6, 2023

dwni said: For example, 1 When you finish with your homework on monday morning. 2 When I finished with my homework last monday, They are dependent clauses. Don't Aren't they? Click to expand...

dwni said: Do they become independent ones when I remove 'when'? For example, 1 You finish with your homework on monday morning. 2 I finished with my homework last monday, Click to expand...

Thank you very much! I saw in a grammar book that clauses must contain at least a subject and a verb. 1 Does it apply to all kinds of clauses? 2 Can they include prepositions of movements, dates, adverbs and so on ? For example, 1 When I quickly came to the party with my brother last Monday, all the people enjoyed a lot there. 2 When I came to the party quickly with my brother last Monday, all the people enjoyed a lot there. 3 When I quickly came to the party with my brother, all the people enjoyed a lot there last Monday. Are these sentences okay?  

All kinds of clauses must contain a verb and its subject because that is part of the definition of a clause. "When" is a common subordinating conjunction for an adverb clause, so that part of your sentences is correct, but the sentences all have other problems and are not okay.  

dwni said: I saw in a grammar book that clauses must contain at least a subject and a verb. 1 Does it apply to all kinds of clauses? Click to expand...

dwni said: 2 Can they include prepositions of movements, dates, adverbs and so on ? Click to expand...

Thank you very much! I know the constructions like 'while doing something' or 'when doing something'. Are these sentences okay? 1 When I quickly came to the party with my brother last Monday, all the people enjoyed a lot there. 2 When I came to the party quickly with my brother last Monday, all the people enjoyed a lot there. 3 When I quickly came to the party with my brother, all the people enjoyed a lot there last Monday.  

dwni said: Are these sentences okay? 1 When I quickly came to the party with my brother last Monday, all the people enjoyed a lot there. 2 When I came to the party quickly with my brother last Monday, all the people enjoyed a lot there. 3 When I quickly came to the party with my brother, all the people enjoyed a lot there last Monday. Click to expand...

• Aug 7, 2023

Thank you very much! In my opinion, they are grammatically correct. Is that right?