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JLPT N5Adverbs

まだ / もう— Still vs Already / Not Yet vs Not Anymore

A pair of adverbs whose English meaning flips depending on whether the verb is positive or negative. まだ = 'still' (positive) / 'not yet' (negative). もう = 'already' (positive) / 'not anymore' (negative).

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A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 15 · ADVERBS

Structure · 形

まだ + [positive → still / negative → not yet] ・ もう + [positive → already / negative → not anymore]

Examples · 例文

  • まだ生きています。

    Mada ikite imasu.

    I am still alive.

    まだ + positive = still

  • まだ決めていません。

    Mada kimete imasen.

    I haven't decided yet.

    まだ + negative = not yet

  • もう限界だ。

    Mou genkai da.

    I'm already at my limit.

    もう + positive = already

  • もう泣かない。

    Mou nakanai.

    I won't cry anymore.

    もう + negative = not anymore

Usage notes · 注意

  • A mental model that avoids the English confusion: まだ = the current state is still CONTINUING. もう = the state has already CHANGED. • もう also appears meaning 'more' in counting: もう一つ (one more).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones まだ is tested against.

vsまだ vs もう

まだ says a state is unchanged/continuing (still, not yet); もう says a state has changed/completed (already, not anymore) — they are near-opposites.

More adverbs

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