How to Use Já and Ainda in Portuguese

When studying Portuguese, students tend to get confused with some grammar issues. A very common question they have is how to use Já and Ainda in Portuguese. Já and Ainda are adverbs and can be used both in affirmative or negative sentences. These words are also often used to emphasize questions and answers.

Using Já in Portuguese

Used to indicate a completed action

• Marcos já está pronto para o casamento. (Marcos is already ready for the wedding.)
• Eu já estou cansada. Preciso de uma xícara de café. (I’m tired already. I need a cup of coffee.)
• As meninas já tomaram banho. (The girls already bathe.)
• Já ouvi falar dester cantor, mas não conheço o trabalho dele. (I have already heard about this singer, but I do not know his wok.)

Used to ask about the past

• Você já leu este livro? (Have you read this book yet?)
• Felipe já chegou em casa? (Is Felipe home yet?)
• Você já estudou português antes? (Have you studied Portuguese before?)

Ps: When answering these, use the word Já in your answer when it is an affirmative sentence. However, you should use Ainda for negative statements.

Examples:

– Você já leu este livro? (Have you read this book yet?)
– Sim, já li. (Yes, I have.)

– Você já leu este livro? (Have you read this book yet?)
– Não, ainda não li. (No, I haven’t read it yet.)

Used to talk about something that is going to be done soon

• Não precisa me apressar, eu já estou indo. (No need to rush me, I’m on my way.)
• As meninas já estão chegando. (The girls are coming soon.)
• Vou no mercado e já volto. (I’m going to the supermarket and I will be right back.)

Ps: In Brazil, we also use the expression ‘já, já’ for something that is going to be done immediately, in just a moment.

Examples:

• Espere! Já, já o bolo fica pronto. (Wait! The cake is going to be ready in a minute.)
• Sente aqui, Márcio vai chegar já, já. (Just sit down, Márcio is arriving in a minute.)

Meaning right now

• Preciso você limpe o chão já! (I need you to clean the floor right now!)
• O chefe quer o relatório pra já. (The boss wants the report right away.)

Used as a conjunction

• Já que José é seu irmão, pode falar com ele pra mim? (Since José is your brother, can you talk to him for me?)
• Desistimos de viajar já que vai chover no fim de semana. (We gave up traveling since it is going to rain on the weekend.)

Using Ainda in Portuguese

Used to talk about something that is not done yet

• Adriana ainda não saiu para trabalhar. (Adriana still hasn’t left for work.)
• Fábio ainda não fez o almoço. (Fábio still hasn’t made lunch.)
• Vocês ainda não trocaram de roupa? (Haven’t you changed clothes yet?)

Used for comparison

• Eu não gosto de mamão, mas gosto ainda menos de ameixa. (I don’t like papaya, but I like plums even less.)
• Bruna começou a melhorar da gripe. Amanhã ela estará ainda melhor. (Bruna is getting better from the flu. Tomorrow she will be feeling even better.)
• A comida de Joana é ainda mais gostosa do que a de Pedro. (Joana’s cooking is even better than Pedro’s.)
• Se você acha o trânsito do Rio de Janeiro ruim, saiba que em São Paulo é ainda pior. (If you think the traffic is bad in Rio de Janeiro, be aware that is even worse in São Paulo.)

Meaning up until now

• Será que Fernando ainda gosta de Mariana? (Does Fernando still like Mariana?)
• Você acha que Leandro ainda quer ir ao show? (Do you think Leandro still wants to go to the concert?)
• Eu ainda acho que esse plano não vai dar certo. (I still think this plan will not work.)

Meaning up until a certain time in the past

• Naquela época, eu ainda morava em Florianópolis. (At that time, I was still living in Florianópolis.)
• Eu ainda era pequeno quando isso aconteceu. (I was still a kid when this happened.)

To talk about hopes for the future

• Você ainda será muito feliz. (You will be very happy someday.)
• Fique calmo. Você ainda vai conseguir comprar um carro. (Keep calm. You will be able to buy a car someday.)

Meaning in addition to, also, on top of

• Na festa do Hélio, eu comi, bebi e ainda ganhei uma lembrancinha. (At Hélio’s party, I ate, drank and even got a party favor.)
• Ontem eu fui à escola, trabalhei e ainda arrumei tempo para sair com meus amigos. (Yesterday I went to school, work and even had time to hang out with my friends.)

How to use Já and Ainda in Portuguese

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