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
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
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.
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
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
Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.
Learning path for まだ～ていません
Use まだ～ていません as part of your JLPT N5 grammar toolkit. A good review order is to start with a short sentence, then compare it with related forms.
Related grammar to review next
- まだ — contrasts with this pattern from the time, sequence, and experience grammar group.
- もう — contrasts with this pattern from the time, sequence, and experience grammar group.
- ている — reviews another way to describe identity, existence, adjective quality, or state.
- たことがある — contrasts with this pattern from the time, sequence, and experience grammar group.
Learn まだ～ていません with Hane
If you want to review まだ～ていません together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here:
FAQ about まだ～ていません
What does まだ～ていません mean in Japanese?
まだ～ていません means “have not yet” in Japanese. It is an N5 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is まだ～ていません on the JLPT?
まだ～ていません is taught as N5 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N5 patterns.
How should I practice まだ～ていません?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after まだ～ていません, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.