noch nicht/nicht mehr

Not Yet / No Longer

Level 2

noch nicht = not yet (expected to happen later)
nicht mehr = no longer / anymore (happened before, but stopped now)

How It Works

In German, expressing that something hasn't happened yet or has ceased requires specific adverbial pairs.

1. noch nicht (Not Yet)
This indicates a state or action is currently false but might become true. In a main clause, it follows the conjugated verb, but it specifically moves after pronouns and definite objects (like 'das' or 'ihn').
Example: Ich kenne ihn noch nicht. (I don't know him yet.)
A common variation is noch nie (never yet), used for things you have never done up to this point: Ich war noch nie in Berlin.

2. nicht mehr (No Longer)
This indicates a state or action was true in the past but is no longer true. In sentences with modal verbs or the perfect tense, it often appears before the final verb.
Example: Er raucht nicht mehr. (He doesn't smoke anymore.)

3. Using 'kein' vs 'nicht'
The choice of negation depends on the noun's article:

  • Use the negative article kein to replace 'ein' or a 'zero article' (no article). When using 'mehr', the noun is placed between the two words: Ich habe kein Geld mehr. (I have no more money.)
  • Use nicht if the noun has a definite article (der, die, das) or a possessive pronoun: Ich habe das Geld noch nicht. (I don't have the money yet.)

Examples (5)

  1. Ich bin noch nicht fertig mit den Hausaufgaben.

    I am not yet finished with the homework.

    Word by Word: I am still not finished with the homework.

    Here, 'noch nicht' indicates the homework is in progress but not completed.

  2. Wir wohnen nicht mehr in Berlin, sondern in München.

    We no longer live in Berlin, but in Munich.

    Word by Word: We live not more in Berlin, but in Munich.

    This shows a change of state: living in Berlin was true in the past, but is not true now.

  3. Hast du schon gegessen? – Nein, noch nicht.

    Have you already eaten? – No, not yet.

    Word by Word: Have you already eaten? – No, still not.

    In short answers, 'noch nicht' is a very common way to say 'not yet'.

  4. Ich kann nicht mehr warten.

    I can't wait anymore.

    Word by Word: I can not more wait.

    When used with a modal verb, 'nicht mehr' typically comes before the infinitive at the end.

  5. Ich habe keine Lust mehr.

    I don't feel like it anymore.

    Word by Word: I have no desire more.

    Because 'Lust' is a noun, we use 'keine... mehr' instead of 'nicht mehr'.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'noch' at the end of the sentence like the English 'yet'.

    Ich habe das getan noch nicht.
    Ich habe das noch nicht getan.

    In German, 'noch nicht' usually stays together or precedes the final verb. It cannot come after the final verb like 'yet' does in English.

  • Using 'nicht mehr' with indefinite nouns instead of 'kein... mehr'.

    Ich habe nicht mehr Brot.
    Ich habe kein Brot mehr.

    When negating a noun that has no article or an indefinite article, you must use the negative article kein. In this case, 'mehr' moves to the end of the clause, splitting the phrase.

  • Confusing 'noch nicht' (not yet) with 'nicht noch' (not another).

    Ich möchte noch nicht ein Problem.
    Ich möchte nicht noch ein Problem!

    'Noch nicht' refers to time (not yet). 'Nicht noch' is used to express frustration about an additional occurrence, meaning 'not another' or 'not one more'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

noch nicht/nicht mehrLevel 2Not Yet / No Longer

Learn This First

To understand 'noch nicht' and 'nicht mehr', a learner must first be comfortable with basic negation using 'nicht' and the temporal meaning of 'noch'. These patterns describe the start or end of a state, so knowing how to position negation in a sentence is also vital.

Words in This Pattern

noch nicht