未Time and change
Still and already
まだ says nothing has changed. もう says it has. やはり says things turned out as you expected.
The pair
Their meaning flips with a negative
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| まだ | still: まだ寒いです | not yet: まだ来ません |
| もう | already: もう寒いです | no longer: もう来ません |
Not yet, or never again?
One word changes the story
I won't eat yet.
You will, just later.
I won't eat any more.
You've stopped.
In use
まだ
It's still light outside.
My daughter is only three.
I haven't done my homework yet.
まだです answers “Have you…?” with “Not yet”.
He hasn't come yet.
“Not yet” usually uses ていません.
In use
もう
It's already twelve.
Have you written the letter yet?
She's no longer a college student.
As expected
やはり
Sure enough, Tanaka came.
Tokyo really does have a lot of people, doesn't it.
やっぱり is the common, more emotional form.
I looked at many, but I'll go with this one after all.
My father was a doctor too, as you'd expect.
Its neighbors
さすが, 結局 and まさか
You'd expect no less from a pro.
やはり confirms what you thought. さすが is impressed by it.
I thought hard about it, but in the end I didn't go.
結局 is “after all” as an outcome, with no expectation involved.
I never dreamed he'd win.
まさか is the opposite of やはり: far from what you expected.
Answering questions
How to respond to もう
To もう食べましたか (Have you eaten yet?), answer はい、もう食べました, or いいえ、まだです. Just 食べませんでした would mean you didn't eat at a particular past time, which doesn't fit.
Your turn
まだ or もう?
It's still raining.
Check yourself
What's the situation?
Its neighbors
Impressed, outcome, or never dreamed?
Say it yourself
Dinner time
It's 8 pm. Your friend asks, “Have you eaten yet?” You haven't. And you add that as you figured, the restaurant is full.
Automatic feedback on your own answers is coming to Premium.