has just left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has just left" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has recently departed from a place. Example: "She has just left the office, so you might catch her at the coffee shop."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He has just left Tripoli.

The New York Times

He has just left.

The Guardian - Books

The second has just left".

The Guardian

Now she has just left her husband.

The Guardian

Tena is 19 and has just left school.

The Guardian

Darren Marklew has just left teaching after 20 years.

The Guardian

Mind you, the friend has just left her husband.

The Guardian

4.50pm: Lord Mandelson has just left Downing Street.

The Guardian

Everything about it draws attention to what is not there, or what has just left.

Independent

That is how the Brussels elite sums up the Polish government that has just left office.

The Economist

Pissarro has just left, and I have taken a painting of his.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has just left" to clearly indicate that someone or something has recently departed, ensuring the timing of the departure is relevant to the context.

Common error

Avoid using "has just left" when referring to events that occurred in the distant past. Use past perfect tense (had left) instead if the departure happened before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has just left" functions as a present perfect tense construction, indicating an action (leaving) that was completed very recently. This is confirmed by Ludwig, which identifies it as grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

18%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has just left" is a grammatically sound and widely used construction in English to indicate a recent departure. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across diverse contexts. Its neutral register allows for versatile application, primarily in reporting recent exits and their immediate implications. It appears most frequently in news and media outlets, followed by academic writings and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure the timing of the departure is relevant and avoid confusion with the past perfect tense ("had just left") for events further in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

departed moments ago

Emphasizes the immediacy of the departure.

exited very recently

Highlights the recency of the exit.

just went away

A more informal way to express recent departure.

took off recently

Implies a quick or sudden departure.

is freshly gone

Emphasizes the newness of the absence.

left not long ago

Simple and direct way of indicating a recent departure.

vacated the premises recently

More formal and emphasizes leaving a place.

completed departure

Focuses on the completion of the act of leaving.

finished exiting

Highlights the end of the action of leaving.

cleared out recently

Suggests a thorough or complete departure.

FAQs

How can I use "has just left" in a sentence?

Use "has just left" to indicate a recent departure. For example, "The train "has just left" the station, so we missed it".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "has just left"?

You can use phrases like "departed moments ago", "exited very recently", or "just went away" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "have just left" instead of "has just left"?

"Has" is used with singular subjects (he, she, it), while "have" is used with plural subjects (I, you, we, they). So, "he "has just left"" is correct, but "they "have just left"" is also correct.

What's the difference between "has just left" and "had just left"?

"Has just left" indicates a recent departure relative to the present. "Had just left" indicates a departure that occurred before another point in the past. For example, "He "has just left", so he's probably still nearby" versus "He had just left when the phone rang".