já não/ainda não

No Longer/Not Yet

Level 6

Já não = No longer / Not anymore (Change of state)
Ainda não = Not yet (Unmet expectation)

How It Works

In Portuguese, temporal negation is more specific than a simple 'não'.

1. Já não (No Longer):
This pattern marks a transition. It is the negative counterpart to ainda (still). If someone asks 'Você ainda mora aqui?' (Do you still live here?), the negative answer is 'Já não moro aqui' (I no longer live here).

  • In Brazil, não... mais is a very common alternative (e.g., 'Não moro mais aqui').
  • In Portugal, já não is the standard form for both speech and writing.

2. Ainda não (Not Yet):
This indicates that an action is pending. It is the negative counterpart to já (already). If someone asks 'Você já comeu?' (Have you already eaten?), the answer is 'Ainda não' (Not yet).

3. Word Order and Pronouns:
Both expressions are strong triggers for proclisis. This means that if there is an object pronoun, it must come before the verb: 'Já não o vejo' (I no longer see him).

4. Tense Usage:
Ainda não is frequently used with the Pretérito Perfeito because it refers to an action that failed to conclude up to the present moment.

Examples (5)

  1. Eu já não trabalho naquela empresa.

    I no longer work at that company.

    Word by Word: I already not work at-that company.

    This shows a change of state: I used to work there, but I don't anymore.

  2. Eles ainda não chegaram da festa.

    They haven't arrived from the party yet.

    Word by Word: They still not arrived from-the party.

    The speaker expects them to arrive, but it hasn't happened yet.

  3. Já não te amo como antigamente.

    I don't love you anymore like I used to.

    Word by Word: Already not you (I) love like formerly.

    Note how 'já não' triggers the pronoun 'te' to move before the verb (proclisis).

  4. Você já terminou o livro? — Ainda não, estou na metade.

    Have you finished the book yet? — Not yet, I'm in the middle.

    Word by Word: You already finished the book? — Still not, (I) am in-the middle.

    'Ainda não' is the standard response to a question using 'já'.

  5. O café já não está quente.

    The coffee is no longer hot.

    Word by Word: The coffee already not is hot.

    This indicates the coffee was hot previously but its state has changed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'não ainda' instead of 'ainda não'.

    Eu não ainda comi.
    Eu ainda não comi.

    In Portuguese, the adverb 'ainda' must precede the negation 'não' when expressing 'not yet'.

  • Redundant use of 'mais' with 'já não' in formal writing.

    Já não quero mais isso.
    Já não quero isso. / Não quero mais isso.

    While common in casual Brazilian speech for emphasis, using both 'já não' and 'mais' is considered pleonastic (redundant) in formal registers.

  • Incorrect pronoun placement after the negation.

    Já não vejo-o.
    Já não o vejo.

    Negative words like 'não' are 'magnetic' and pull the object pronoun to the position before the verb.

How It Connects

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

já não/ainda nãoLevel 6No Longer/Not Yet

Learn This First

To learn 'já não' (no longer) and 'ainda não' (not yet), learners need a solid grasp of basic negation in Portuguese and how temporal adverbs like 'já' function to indicate changes in state or expectations.

Words in This Pattern