もう VS. まだ - mou vs mada - when to use which

how to use もう and まだ

もう and まだ have a bunch of different English translations, but it’s fairly straightforward in Japanese:

• use もう when something has changed
• use まだ when something has NOT changed

Though I’ve highlighted the equivalent English words below, I would recommend NOT memorizing the English translations of もう and まだ and instead ask yourself:

has this situation changed?

If it has, use もう. If it hasn’t changed, use まだ.

use もう when something has changed

Example English sentences where もう would be used:

Did you buy the sake yet?

(Previously, you had not bought the sake, and the speaker wants to know if that’s changed, and that you have bought the sake.)

I don’t smoke anymore.

(I used to smoke, but I don’t now.)

use まだ when something has NOT changed

Example English sentences where まだ would be used:

I’m still waiting until the last minute to do my taxes.

(I was waiting to do my taxes before, and I’m still waiting to do them.)

I haven’t done my homework yet.

(Previously, I had not done my homework, and I still haven’t.)