The clock can show the same time while two speakers react differently. Es ist schon halb acht sounds late; Es ist erst halb acht sounds early. These small words add expectations to facts.
The idea
Schon often means already. Es ist erst sieben presents the time as still early; Ich habe erst zwei Seiten gelesen presents progress as limited so far. In Ich komme erst am Freitag, erst means not until Friday. Noch says a situation continues; noch nicht means not yet, and nicht mehr means no longer.
| Expression | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| schon | already |
| erst | only so far / not until |
| noch | still |
| noch nicht | not yet |
| nicht mehr | no longer |
Read the time first, then add schon or erst to show your expectation. Telling the time in German: Uhr, halb and Viertel
One time, two expectations
In both opening examples, halb acht is 7:30. Erst suggests that there is less elapsed time than expected; schon suggests that time has advanced further than expected. The clock does not change. The speaker’s viewpoint does. In Ich komme erst am Freitag, erst instead sets a later starting point: not before Friday.
Examples
- Es ist erst halb acht; wir haben noch Zeit.It is only half past seven; we still have time.
- Es ist schon halb acht; der Bus fährt gleich.It is already half past seven; the bus leaves in a moment.
- Lina wartet noch vor dem Kino.Lina is still waiting outside the cinema.
- Der Film hat noch nicht angefangen.The film has not started yet.
- Der Kiosk ist nicht mehr geöffnet.The kiosk is no longer open.
- Ich habe erst zwei Seiten gelesen.I have only read two pages so far.
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Watch out
Do not use nicht mehr for something that has not started. Erst and nur can both translate as only, but erst highlights an early stage or a later starting point; nur limits a quantity or excludes alternatives. Nur alone does not guarantee what will happen next.
Try it yourself
Wir sind früh dran. Es ist ___ sieben Uhr. (erst / schon)
Show answer or example answer
erst
Erst fits the stated context: we are early, and seven feels early to us. Schon would present seven as late or sooner than expected.
Der Film beginnt in fünf Minuten. Er hat ___ angefangen. (noch nicht / nicht mehr)
Show answer or example answer
noch nicht
Noch nicht means the start is still ahead. The film begins in five minutes; it has not started yet.
Der Film ist zu Ende. Er läuft ___. (noch nicht / nicht mehr)
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nicht mehr
Nicht mehr means the situation has ended. The film is over, so it is no longer running.
Ich höre nicht auf zu warten. Ich warte ___. (noch / nicht mehr)
Show answer or example answer
noch
Noch shows that the waiting continues. Already waiting is possible in other contexts, but the contrast here is continuing versus stopping.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Wir sind früh dran. Es ist ___ sieben Uhr. (erst / schon)
Der Film beginnt in fünf Minuten. Er hat ___ angefangen. (noch nicht / nicht mehr)
Der Film ist zu Ende. Er läuft ___. (noch nicht / nicht mehr)
Ich höre nicht auf zu warten. Ich warte ___. (noch / nicht mehr)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a real plan with four sentences: what has already happened, what is still happening, what has not happened yet and what will not happen until tomorrow. Include a time or a date so the listener can follow.