Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 7: 8/13

もうAlready, Anymore

Structure

もう + (Past) Phrase
もう + (Negative) Phrase

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Adverb

  • Word Type

    Ordinary

  • Register

    Standard

About もう

In English, もう is regularly translated to 'already', or 'anymore', depending on if it is used in a positive-past (already), or negative (anymore) sentence. The reason that Japanese only requires one word for both of these nuances is due to もう literally meaning 'something has unexpectedly ended'.

From these sentences we can see that もう can be translated in each case as the following.

(Past) - Although expected to not be done, it is. 'Already', in English.

(Negative) - Although expected to still be going, it isn't. 'Anymore', in English.

This is the opposite of まだ, which means 'something is unexpectedly still going'.

もう may also be used to ask questions. This is when the speaker thinks that something 'might' have ended, but wants to confirm.

Fun Fact

もう is often used simply as an expression of exasperation (giving up on arguing), to show that someone has already reached the point of not wanting to continue.

  • あ～もう無理(むり)。
    Ugh, that's enough. (I've had enough, I'm done arguing/continuing)

Examples

--:--

    もう学校(がっこう)に行(い)きましたか。

    Did you already go to school?

    もうその本を読(よ)んだ。

    I have already read that book.

    もうコーヒーを作(つく)りました。

    I already made coffee.

    もうしました。

    I already did it.

    もう帰(かえ)った。

    They already went home.

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        • Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai

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      もう – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

      • max99x

        max99x

        Good to know! Thanks!

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        No problemo, and also,

        HEY AND WELCOME ON THE COMMUNITY FORUMS

      • maxduff

        maxduff

        Hello everyone,
        I have trouble understanding the structure of the sentence :

        犬の散歩もうしました。

        At first I tried to input 犬の散歩はもうしました。but it was incorrect.

        Why is there no particle before もう ? I can see no conjunction between 犬の散歩 and the rest of the sentence. I couldn’t find any other example of もう not following a particle, except at the beginning of a clause. Sorry if it’s a dumb question but I’m a beginner and it doesn’t make sense to me

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