Japanese JLPT Grammar Point
まだ~ません (mada ~masen)

まだ~ません (mada ~masen)

Short explanation:

Expresses that something has not happened or been done yet.

Formation:

まだ + Verb-ます form (negative)

Examples:

昼ご飯をまだ食べていません。
Hirugohan wo mada tabeteimasen.
I have not eaten lunch yet.
宿題がまだ終わっていません。
Shukudai ga mada owatteimasen.
I have not finished my homework yet.
東京にはまだ行ったことがありません。
Toukyou ni wa mada itta koto ga arimasen.
I have not been to Tokyo yet.
彼はまだ来ていません。
Kare wa mada kiteimasen.
He has not come yet.

Long explanation:

The まだ~ません grammar point is used to express that something has not happened or been done yet. It is used with the negative form of a verb, which is in the ません form, and まだ is placed before the verb.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: まだ~ません (mada ~masen)

Japanese Grammar Point: まだ~ません (mada ~masen)

まだ~ません (mada ~masen)

1. Introduction

In Japanese, expressing that an action or event has not occurred yet but is expected to happen is essential for daily communication. The grammar pattern まだ~ません (mada ~masen) allows speakers to convey this meaning politely and effectively.


2. Core Grammar Explanation

Detailed Explanation

  • まだ means "not yet" or "still".
  • ~ません is the negative polite form of a verb (the negative form of ます form).
  • When combined, まだ~ません expresses that an action has not occurred yet but is anticipated in the future.

Meaning, Structure, Formation Diagram

Structure:

まだ + Verb in ます-form negative (~ません)

Formation Diagram:

Component Role Meaning
まだ Adverb Not yet/still
Verb stem + ません Negative polite verb form Do not [verb]

3. Comparative Analysis

Comparing Similar Grammar Points

  • まだ~ません vs. もう~ました
    • まだ~ません: Indicates an action has not yet occurred.
      • Example: まだ食べていません。(I haven't eaten yet.)
    • もう~ました: Indicates an action has already occurred.
      • Example: もう食べました。(I have already eaten.)
  • まだ~ています vs. まだです
    • まだ~ています: Emphasizes an action is still ongoing.
      • Example: まだ勉強しています。(I am still studying.)
    • まだです: Used to express "Not yet" as a stand-alone response.
      • Example: 「準備はできましたか?」(Are you ready?) 「いいえ、まだです。」(No, not yet.)

4. Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

Formal Context

  1. 私はまだレポートを提出していません。 Watashi wa mada repōto o teishutsu shite imasen. "I have not submitted the report yet."
  2. 彼はまだ会社に到着していません。 Kare wa mada kaisha ni tōchaku shite imasen. "He hasn't arrived at the company yet."

Informal Context

  1. まだ起きてないよ。 Mada okitenai yo. "I'm not up yet."
  2. まだ見てない。 Mada mitenai. "I haven't seen it yet."

Written Context

  1. 新機能はまだ実装されていません。 Shin kinō wa mada jissō sarete imasen. "The new feature has not been implemented yet."
  2. その問題はまだ解決されていません。 Sono mondai wa mada kaiketsu sarete imasen. "That issue has not been resolved yet."

Spoken Context

  1. 映画はまだ終わっていませんか? Eiga wa mada owatte imasen ka? "Hasn't the movie finished yet?"
  2. 彼女はまだ来ていませんか? Kanojo wa mada kite imasen ka? "Hasn't she come yet?"

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

In Japanese society, expressing things politely and indirectly is valued to maintain harmony and respect. Using まだ~ません is a polite way to indicate that something hasn't happened yet without sounding abrupt or negative.

Levels of Politeness and Formality

  • Polite Form (~ません): Used in formal situations, workplaces, or when speaking to strangers and superiors.
  • Casual Form (~ない): Used among friends, family, or in informal settings.
    • Example: まだ帰らない。(I'm not going home yet.)

Idiomatic Expressions

  • まだまだです。 Mada mada desu.
    • Used to express humility, meaning "I still have a long way to go" or "I'm not there yet."
    • Commonly used in response to compliments.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

  1. Misplacing まだ in the sentence
    • 私は宿題をしてまだいません。
    • 私はまだ宿題をしていません。 Tip: Place まだ before the verb phrase.
  2. Using Past Negative Form with まだ
    • まだ食べませんでした。
    • まだ食べていません。 Tip: Use the present perfect negative (~ていません) to indicate an action hasn't happened yet.

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device

    • "Ma-da" sounds like "Mad at" – Imagine you're "mad at" someone because they haven't done something yet.
  • Practice with Common Verbs

    • Create sentences using daily activities:
      • まだ朝ごはんを食べていません。
      • まだメールを確認していません。

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • まだ~ません is used to express that an action has not occurred yet but is expected to happen.
  • The structure combines まだ with the negative polite form of a verb (~ません).
  • Placement of まだ is crucial – it comes before the verb phrase.
  • Avoid using past tense negative with まだ; use present negative forms.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. Translate to Japanese: "I haven't bought the tickets yet." Answer: まだチケットを買っていません。 Mada chiketto o katte imasen.
  2. What is the polite negative form of the verb 飲む (のむ - to drink) when used with まだ? Answer: まだ飲みません。 Mada nomimasen.
  3. Is this sentence correct? Why or why not? 映画はもう始まっていません。 Answer: No, it's incorrect. The sentence uses もう (already) with a negative form, which is contradictory. It should be:
    • 映画はまだ始まっていません。 Mada (not yet) with negative form.
    • 映画はもう始まりました。 (already) with affirmative form.

By mastering まだ~ません, you'll be able to express pending actions politely and enhance your Japanese communication skills.

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Public Alpha version Open Source (GitHub). This site is currently undergoing active development. You may (will) encounter bugs, inconsistencies, or limited functionality. Lots of sentences might not sound natural. We are progressively addressing these issues with native speakers.


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