nog niet/niet meer
Nog Niet and Niet Meer
Nog niet = Not yet (expected to happen)
Niet meer = No longer / Not anymore (used to happen but stopped)
How It Works
In Dutch, expressing that something hasn't started or has already finished requires specific combinations of niet and nog.
- Nog niet (Not yet): This is the opposite of al (already). It indicates that a situation has not occurred up to now, but it is likely or expected to happen in the future.
- Niet meer (No longer): This is the opposite of nog (still). It indicates that a situation was true in the past but has now ceased.
Word Order and Syntax:
These phrases usually follow the conjugated verb in a main clause. However, if you are negating an indefinite noun (a noun without de/het or a possessive), the pattern changes to geen ... meer or nog geen.
For example:
- Ik heb nog geen auto. (I don't have a car yet.)
- Ik heb geen geld meer. (I have no more money left.)
In very formal writing, you might see niet langer used instead of niet meer, but in daily life, niet meer is the standard choice.
Examples (5)
- Ik ben nog niet klaar met mijn huiswerk.
I am not finished with my homework yet.
Word by Word: I am still not ready with my homework.
Here, 'nog niet' indicates the homework is expected to be finished, but isn't at this moment.
- Zij woont hier niet meer sinds vorige maand.
She doesn't live here anymore since last month.
Word by Word: She lives here not more since last month.
'Niet meer' shows that the action of living there has stopped.
- De bakker is nog niet open.
The bakery isn't open yet.
Word by Word: The baker is still not open.
This implies the bakery will open later.
- Ik drink niet meer, dank je.
I don't drink anymore, thank you.
Word by Word: I drink not more, thank you.
Used when someone offers a drink and you have decided to stop drinking (for the night or in general).
- Het regent niet meer.
It is no longer raining.
Word by Word: It rains not more.
The rain was happening previously but has now stopped.
Common Mistakes
Using 'niet meer' for 'not yet'.
Different MeaningIk ben niet meer klaar.Ik ben nog niet klaar.'Ik ben niet meer klaar' is correct, but it means 'I am no longer finished' (or no longer ready). To say 'not yet', use 'nog niet'.
Using 'niet meer' with indefinite nouns.
Ik heb niet meer koffie.Ik heb geen koffie meer.When negating a quantity or indefinite noun, you must use the 'geen ... meer' construction instead of 'niet meer'.
Using 'noch niet' for 'not yet'.
Ik ben noch niet thuis.Ik ben nog niet thuis.'Noch' means 'nor' and is used in 'neither... nor' constructions. 'Nog' is the correct word for 'yet' or 'still'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'nog niet' (not yet) and 'niet meer' (not anymore), you first need to be comfortable with basic negation using 'niet'. Since these phrases function as temporal markers within a sentence, a solid grasp of basic Dutch word order and simple time adverbs is essential for placing them correctly.
Related Patterns
- al/nog/pasAl, Nog and Pas
These are the positive counterparts; 'nog niet' negates 'al', and 'niet meer' negates 'nog'.
Level 3 - niet / geenChoosing Niet or Geen
Understanding when to use 'niet' or 'geen' is crucial for correctly forming 'niet meer' versus 'geen meer'.
Level 3 - geen ... meer
This is the specific version of 'niet meer' used when negating indefinite nouns.
Level 2 - Negation Placement
The placement of 'niet' in these phrases follows the general rules of Dutch negation word order.
Level 3 - noch...nochNeither...nor
Often confused with 'nog', this is the formal way to say 'neither... nor'.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice nog niet/niet meer in Bubblegum
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