もう Japanese Grammar Lesson
Grammar Type: Adverb
Essential Meaning: Already / Now / Not any longer
Construction: Adverb
Notes:
- もう is the opposite of まだ. もう expresses the idea that something or someone is no longer in the same state that they were in previously. For example, consider these two sentences: (1) “I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.” (2) “I already brushed my teeth.” Sentence 1 conveys the idea that the speaker is still in the state of having not brushed his or her teeth. Sentence 2 conveys the idea that the speaker is no longer in the state of having not brushed his or teeth. Thus, まだ would be appropriate in sentence 1, and もう would be appropriate in sentence 2.
- E.g. 私はもう歯を磨いた。[I already brushed my teeth.]
- E.g. 私はまだ歯を磨いていない。[I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.]
- もう can be with both positive or negative verbs. With a positive verb, もう corresponds to the English “Already” or “Now“. With a negative verb, もう corresponds to the English “No longer“.
- E.g. With Positive Verb: 私はもう昼ごはんを食べた。[I already ate lunch.]
- E.g. With Positive Verb: 春男くんはもう大丈夫です。[Haruo-kun is OK now.]
- E.g. With Negative Verb: ヒルさんはもう日本語を勉強していない。[Ms. Hill is no longer studying Japanese.]
Example Sentences:
私はもう昼ごはんを食べた。[I already ate lunch.]
ヒルさんはもう日本語を勉強していない。[Ms. Hill is no longer studying Japanese.]
A: もう宿題をしましたか。B: はい、もうしました。[A: Did you already do your homework? B: Yes, I already did it.]
私はもう酒を飲みません。[I don’t drink sake any more.]
春男くんはもう大丈夫です。[Haruo-kun is OK now.]
WILD Examples:
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