まだ～ていません means have not yet. It is a JLPT N5 Japanese grammar pattern used to say that an action has not happened up to now.
This grammar point appears often in beginner conversations, classroom Japanese, and JLPT-style questions. If you want to talk about unfinished actions politely, まだ～ていません is a useful pattern to learn because it helps you build natural basic sentences.
What does まだ～ていません mean?
Use まだ～ていません when you want to say something is still not completed.
Natural translations include:
- have not yet
- not yet done
- still have not
The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on the role of the grammar point in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.
How to form まだ～ていません
まだ + Verb て-form + いません
Examples of the pattern:
- まだ食べていません
- まだ見ていません
- まだ終わっていません
Pay attention to the word form before and after the pattern. Many beginner mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.
When is まだ～ていません used?
Use まだ～ていません in situations like:
- answering whether something is done
- talking about tasks not completed
- saying an experience has not happened yet
Tone and register:
- polite and neutral; casual form is まだ～ていない
- Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and beginner JLPT questions
まだ～ていません example sentences
- まだ昼ご飯を食べていません。 — I have not eaten lunch yet.
- 宿題はまだ終わっていません。 — My homework is not finished yet.
- その映画はまだ見ていません。 — I have not seen that movie yet.
- 先生にはまだ聞いていません。 — I have not asked the teacher yet.
- メールはまだ送っていません。 — I have not sent the email yet.
Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: question, contrast, reason, time limit, suggestion, negation, or obligation.
Nuance of まだ～ていません
The key nuance is an expected action remains incomplete.
This matters because beginner Japanese often uses small words and endings to show meaning that English expresses with word order or helper verbs. For まだ～ていません, the sentence can change a lot depending on placement and context.
For example:
- In conversation, it sounds clear and polite.
- Compared with もう～ました, it feels unfinished rather than completed.
まだ～ていません vs もう～ました
Both まだ～ていません and もう～ました can express related ideas, but they are different.
まだ～ていません:
- uses まだ with the negative ている form
- implies the action may happen later
もう～ました:
- uses もう with past tense
- says the action is already complete
Quick contrast examples:
- まだ読み終わっていません。— I have not finished reading yet.
- もう読み終わりました。— I have already finished reading.
If you are unsure which one to use, ask what the sentence is trying to do: ask a question, connect ideas, show a reason, mark time, make an invitation, or express obligation.
Common mistakes with まだ～ていません
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using まだ with ました when you mean “not yet”
- Forgetting the negative ending いません
- Confusing ていません with simple past negative ませんでした
A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.
Is まだ～ていません on the JLPT?
Yes. まだ～ていません is commonly taught as JLPT N5 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.
Practice questions for まだ～ていません
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Say you have not eaten yet.
- Say you have not sent an email yet.
- Say you have not watched a movie yet.
Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.
Learn まだ～ていません with Kanjiru
If you want to review まだ～ていません together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N5 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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