Japanese for English speakers Office · Lesson 1

Not yet

Answer about unfinished tasks with まだ (mada, not yet). Learn 〜ました for past polite ('I have done'), plus メール (email) and 時間 (time).

Conversation

  1. PX296 PX296

    メールはもう送りましたか？

    mēru wa mō okurimashita ka?

    Have you already sent the email?

    Tip: <mēru> = e-mail <okurimasu> = to send <[verb] + mastita> = I did do something / I have done something. To use this structure take away the "masu" ending and replace it with "mashita". <Yasumimasu> = to rest, to have a break <Yasumimashita> = I have taken a break, I took a break

  2. Bob Bob

    いいえ、まだです

    īe, mada desu

    No, not yet

  3. PX296 PX296

    へえ？まだですか？

    hē? mada desu ka?

    Eh? No yet?

  4. PX296 PX296

    時間がほとんどありませんよ

    jikan ga hotondo arimasen yo

    There is almost no time left

    Tip: <hotondo> = almost

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does まだ mean?

'Not yet' or 'still'. As a complete answer: まだです = 'not yet'. As a modifier: まだ寝ています = 'still sleeping'.

How do you form the past polite tense?

Replace ます with ました: 食べます (eat) → 食べました (ate). Negative past: 食べませんでした (didn't eat).

What does ほとんど mean?

'Almost' or 'mostly' — ほとんどありません = 'there's almost nothing left'.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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