Ya: already and not yet

The idea

Place ya before a verb to say already; todavía no marks something still pending.

Examples

• Ya he comido.I have already eaten.
• Ana ya tiene el billete.Ana already has the ticket.
• ¿Ya terminaste la tarea?Have you finished the task already?
• El tren ya salió.The train has already left.
• Ya conocemos este barrio.We already know this neighborhood.
• Todavía no llega el autobús, pero ya estamos en la parada.The bus has not arrived yet, but we are already at the stop.

Watch out

Ya has other meanings too; these examples focus on already.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the word for an existing situation: Ana tiene el billete desde esta mañana: ___ lo tiene. (ya / todavía no)

   Show answer or example answer

   ya

   Ana has the ticket now, so ya marks the existing state.

2. Choose the word for an action still pending: El autobús no ha llegado y lo seguimos esperando: ___ no llega. (todavía / ya)

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   todavía

   Todavía no says that the arrival remains pending.

3. Choose the word for a completed departure: El tren salió hace cinco minutos: ___ salió. (ya / todavía no)

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   ya

   The train left five minutes ago, so ya salió.

Use it today

Say what you have already done and what has not happened yet.