Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“Not yet”
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that an action or event is incomplete or has not occurred up to the present moment.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb て-form + いません
N/A (Used only with verbs in the て-form)
N/A (Used only with verbs in the て-form)
まだ + Verb て-form + いません
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used widely. The polite form (～ていません) makes it suitable for most standard formal conversations.
Informal Situations
Used frequently. The plain form (まだ～ていない) is more common among friends and family.
Written Language
Common in emails, reports, and memos to describe project status or incomplete actions.
Spoken Language
Extremely common for daily status updates and questions.
💡 Common Applications
Reporting Unfinished Tasks
Used to report that a scheduled or expected action (like cleaning) has not been completed up to the present time.
Example: まだ掃除をしていません。 (Mada sōji o shite imasen.)
Expressing Lack of Initiation
Used when an event or state (like a meeting starting) has not yet begun.
Example: 会議はまだ始まっていません。 (Kaigi wa mada hajimatte imasen.)
Checking Progress or Status
Used in questions or statements regarding the status of something expected (like a reply or delivery).
Example: 返事はまだ来ていませんか？ (Henji wa mada kite imasen ka?)
Frequency
Very High (Essential for daily conversation)
Difficulty
N5 – Foundational
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
私はまだ朝ご飯を食べていません。
Furigana: わたしは まだ あさごはんを たべていません。
Romaji: Watashi wa mada asagohan o tabete imasen.
English: I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.
Example #2
宿題はまだ終わっていません。
Furigana: しゅくだいは まだ おわっていません。
Romaji: Shukudai wa mada owatte imasen.
English: The homework is not finished yet.
Example #3
父はまだ家に帰っていません。
Furigana: ちちは まだ うちに かえっていません。
Romaji: Chichi wa mada uchi ni kaette imasen.
English: My father hasn’t come home yet.
Example #4
チケットはまだ買っていません。
Furigana: チケットは まだ かっていません。
Romaji: Chiketto wa mada katte imasen.
English: I haven’t bought a ticket yet.
Example #5
店はまだ開いていません。
Furigana: みせは まだ あいていません。
Romaji: Mise wa mada aite imasen.
English: The store hasn’t opened yet.
Example #6
テストの勉強はまだしていません。
Furigana: テストの べんきょうは まだ していません。
Romaji: Tesuto no benkyō wa mada shite imasen.
English: I haven’t studied for the exam yet.
Example #7
荷物はまだ届いていません。
Furigana: にもつは まだ とどいていません。
Romaji: Nimotsu wa mada todoite imasen.
English: The package hasn’t arrived yet.
Example #8
雨はまだやんでいません。
Furigana: あめは まだ やんでいません。
Romaji: Ame wa mada yande imasen.
English: The rain hasn’t stopped yet.
Example #9
レポートはまだ出していません。
Furigana: レポートは まだ だしていません。
Romaji: Repōto wa mada dashite imasen.
English: I haven’t submitted the report yet.
Example #10
彼女は卒業後に何をするかまだ決めていません。
Furigana: かのじょは そつぎょうごに なにを するか まだ きめていません。
Romaji: Kanojo wa sotsugyōgo ni nani o suru ka mada kimete imasen.
English: She hasn’t decided what to do after graduation yet.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Short Answer Form
In casual conversation or as a quick response, *まだです* can be used as a standalone answer to mean “Not yet.” This is a concise way to reply to a question like “Did you finish?”
Example: まだです。 (Mada desu.)
Plain Form (V-ていない)
The plain form (V-ていない) is used in informal speech (with family, close friends) and occasionally in casual writing. Both V-ていません and V-ていない mean the same thing.
Example: まだ宿題をやっていない。 (Mada shukudai o yatte inai.)
Relationship with “もう (Mō)”
The question often uses *もう* (already) in the positive past tense, and *まだ～ていません* is the standard negative response. They are opposites.
Example: もう朝ご飯を食べましたか？ (Mō asagohan o tabemashita ka?)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ まだ食べていません。
✅ まだ食べません。
The simple negative present tense (食べません) implies that you *will not* eat, not that you *haven’t eaten yet*. You must use the continuous/state form negative (～ていません).
❌ まだ終わっていません。
✅ まだです。
While *まだです* is correct for a short answer, using *まだ* with the plain form verb (e.g., まだ終わっていない) or the polite form (まだ終わっていません) is necessary for a full sentence.
❌ まだ勉強していません。
✅ もう勉強していません。
*もう* means “already” and is usually paired with the positive past tense (もう勉強しました). When expressing “not yet,” always use the adverb *まだ*.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Standard Polite (Teineigo)
Social Situations: Appropriate for communicating progress to teachers, supervisors, or colleagues, as well as in casual settings.
Regional Variations: The structure is standard across Japan. The informal version (まだ～ていない) may have regional pronunciation variations, but the base grammar is universal.
🔍 Subtle Differences
まだ～ていません vs. ～ていません (without まだ)
Adding *まだ* emphasizes that the non-completion is contrary to expectation or that the action is *expected* to happen later. Without *まだ*, it simply states the current lack of action or state.
When to use: Use *まだ* when expressing that an action is delayed or pending. Use just *～ていません* when simply stating a current negative state.
まだ～ていません vs. まだ～ません
*まだ～ていません* means “not finished/occurred yet.” *まだ～ません* is generally ungrammatical or sounds unnatural; simple negative should be paired with *もう* (e.g., もうしません – I won’t do it again).
When to use: Always use the V-ていません form to express non-completion up to the present moment.
📝 Conjugation Notes
This pattern requires the て-form (Te-kei) of the verb. It is the negative, polite form of the V-ている state. The verb must be one that expresses a resulting state (e.g., 終わる -> 終わっている, 食べる -> 食べている).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The particle *wa* (は) is often omitted in quick, casual speech when listing the subject/topic. Ensure the *te* particle connects smoothly to *imasen*.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of *MADA* (まだ) as sounding like “Not *MA*de” or “Not *DA*TA done.” It is always associated with the negative state of an action being unfinished (～ていません).
Other Grammar
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