What is the difference between もう vs まだ?

もう says a change has already happened: もう食べました "I've already eaten". With a negative, もう〜ない means "not any more" — the earlier state has ended. まだ says the change has not happened: まだ雨が降っています "it's still raining". With a negative, まだ means "not yet", and for "not yet (done)" it takes the ている form: まだ食べていません, not まだ食べませんでした. To もう食べましたか, answer はい、もう食べました or いいえ、まだです.

When do you use もう?

Already; (with a negative) not any more

When do you use まだ?

Still; (with a negative) not yet

もう vs まだ: what's the difference?

もう means a change has happened (already, not any more); まだ means it has not happened yet (still, not yet). With examples and a drill.

Draft: written with AI help and not yet checked by a teacher. If something looks wrong, please report it.

The patterns

もうAlready; (with a negative) not any moreOpen the lesson
まだStill; (with a negative) not yetOpen the lesson

The difference

もう says a change has already happened: もう食たべました "I've already eaten". With a negative, もう〜ない means "not any more" — the earlier state has ended. まだ says the change has not happened: まだ雨あめが降ふっています "it's still raining". With a negative, まだ means "not yet", and for "not yet (done)" it takes the ている form: まだ食たべていません, not まだ食たべませんでした. To もう食たべましたか, answer はい、もう食たべました or いいえ、まだです.

Side by side

もうもう宿題しゅくだいをしました。I've already done my homework.

まだまだ宿題しゅくだいをしていません。I haven't done my homework yet.

"Not yet" is まだ + 〜ていません.

もうもう雨あめは降ふっていません。It isn't raining any more.

まだまだ雨あめが降ふっています。It's still raining.

もう + negative: the state has ended. まだ + positive: it is still going on.

もう彼かれはもう大人おとなです。He's an adult now.

まだ弟おとうとはまだ子こどもです。My little brother is still a child.

Both work with nouns too: a change that has happened vs one that hasn't.

もうもう十時じゅうじですね。帰かえりましょう。It's already ten. Let's go home.

まだまだ七時しちじですよ。ゆっくりしてください。It's only seven. Take your time.

With times: もう "already (late)", まだ "still (early)".

Quick drill

Pick the word that fits the blank. You get the answer straight away.

昼ひるご飯はんを食たべましたか。— いいえ、＿＿です。
＿＿九時くじだ。急いそがないと遅刻ちこくする。
その本ほんは＿＿読よみました。面白おもしろかったです。
映画えいがは＿＿始はじまっていません。
祖父そふは九十歳きゅうじゅっさいですが、＿＿元気げんきです。
お腹なかがいっぱいで、＿＿食たべられません。

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