Już and jeszcze

Hi,

I'm having trouble understanding the meaning of "już" and "jeszcze". I understand so far that jeszcze means the verb is still on going, like English "still", e.g.

Jeszcze czytam ksiażkę -> I am still reading the book

and also "even"

Ta ksiażka jest jeszcze lepsza -> This book is even better.

However, I can't get when to use "już". According to the translator and my grammar book, it means "already and yet". But I'm seeing used in all sorts of phrases that don't seem to make sense, e.g. To ja "już" wybieram kino.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of an article or good explanation on the usages, etc..? Thanks

In the example "to ja już wybieram kino/to ja już wolę iść do kina", the use of "już" is quite specific. It means that of all other options previously mentioned, the speaker is ready to choose "kino", but he is not happy with this choice either. Here, the "już" has nothing to do with its basic meaning of "already/yet".

"Jeszcze tego nie zrobiłem/zrobiłam" = "I haven't done it yet" jeszcze (negative)=yet

"Nadal/wciąż/jeszcze czytam" = "I'm still reading" jeszcze (affirmative)=still

"Już skończyłem/skończyłam" = "I have already finished" już (affirmative)=already

"Ta ksiażka jest jeszcze lepsza" = "This book is even better" jeszcze (affirmative)=even
"Jeszcze" (=even) in the last example also means "nawet/wręcz".

I hope that helps :)

right now.. get on... kind of like "let's do this already!"

it means that you have other options to choose (like going to the theater). but you know that both are boring for you. so now you say "To ja juz wybieram kino"... you don't want to go there but it's better than going to the theater :)

Brilliant, thanks for the help. It's starting to make sense now :-)

So "juz" in this context, is kind of like the "already" in the American expression, "Let's just go to the cinema already", when given a choice of things to do.

So I am now confused. What about when you ask for one more? Is that not Jeszcze jedno? So where does it change to "another"

"Jeszcze jedno" = One more (lit. 'still one')

"Już nie" = no more, no longer (lit. 'already not'), for example "Już go nie ma." = He's not here any more/He's no longer here etc..

Marek

" Daj mi jeszcze jedno jabłko" = "Give me another apple" or "Give me one more apple"

"Jeszcze go nie ma" = "He is not here yet"

:)

Jeszcze mam więcej czas. = I still have more time.

Piję jeszcze jedno Żywiec! = I'll have another Żywiec!
Marek :-)

Piję jeszcze jedno Żywiec! = I'll have another Żywiec! -- I don't think so.
It sounds more like I’m still drinking that beer. Since pije is a present continuous verb…
I think it'd be better if u'd say 'Wypije jeszcze jedno/ jednego Zywiec/Zywca' which makes more sense here.

I should have realized:-)

well... i'd rather say jednego zywca than jeden zywiec... but it's all the same anwyays.

'wypije jeszcze jeden żywiec' sounds strange

'wypije jeszcze jednego żywca' sounds better : o

"Jeszcze mam więcej czas" = This sounds awfully clumsy in Polish

"Mam jeszcze czas" / "Jeszcze mam czas" = "I still got time" or " I still have time" is correct

"Mam więcej czasu" = "I have more time" or "I got more time"

"Piję jeszcze jedno Żywiec" = Clumsy in Polish
"Napiję sie jeszcze jednego Żywca" = "I'll have another Żywiec" or
"Wezmę jeszcze jednego Żywca" = "I'll take another Żywiec" or
"Dla mnie jeszcze jeden Żywiec" = "Another Żywiec" (for me)" / "One more Żywiec (for me)"
"Poproszę jeszcze jednego Żywca" = "Another Żywiec, please"

:)

but you can encounter colloquial -' Pijesz jeszcze jednego żywca?' - Will you have another żywiec

Gab,

You seem to know almost as much Polish as Gumishu. How's that? Are you Polish too?
:-)

Yes, Polish is my native language :)

I thought so:-)
Thanks ever so much for straightening me out about the "WYpiję jeszcze jedNEGO ŻywCA". vs. what I wrote.
))))))))

Sure :) I'm glad I could help :)

Hello Gab can You help me

Piję_______ = I drink...... (all the time) vs. Wypiję_________ = I'll drink right now.

Is this correct then?:-)!

Marek

Glad I could help : o

Hi Marek,

"Piję" e.g. "Piję kawę" = "I'm drinking coffee" (Present Progressive - now)
"Piję" e.g. "Piję kawę 3 razy w tygodniu" = "I drink coffee 3 times a week" (Present Simple)
Also Present Simple (habitual meaning): "Pijam kawę 3 razy w tygodniu" (it sounds kind of old-fashioned, but is also correct)

"Wypiję" as in "Wypiję kawę i pójdziemy do sklepu" = "I'll finish/have coffee and we''ll go to the store"

"Dopiję kawę i pójdziemy do sklepu" = "I'll finish coffee and we''ll go to the store" (if you have a little coffee left in your cup, like 2 sips) or:

"Dokończę kawę i pójdziemy do sklepu" = "I'll finish coffee and we''ll go to the store"

"Napiję się" as in "Napiję sie kawy i pójdziemy do sklepu" = "I'll have coffee and we''ll go to the store"

"Czego się napijesz?" = "What would you like (to drink)? / What are you going to have?" =
Answer 1: "Napiję się kawy" = "I'll have coffee"
Answer 2: "Poproszę kawę" = "I'd like coffee, please" or simply "Coffee, please"
Answer 3 : "Dla mnie kawa" = "(For me) Coffee, please" (you wouldn't say "please" = "proszę" in Polish, but it's implied)

:)

All makes perfect sense as you've explained it. You must have spent lots of time here in the States, Gab. You're English is unusually good.

As we struggle valiantly with the Polish aspects, sure most of ya'll get ever so mixed up with the English tenses, a different sort of nightmare-:)!

)))))))
Marku

I think foreign language learners encounter many problems learning target languages whether it's grammar, pronunciation or whatever. For Polish learners of English it's certainly pronunciation, verb tenses and articles (as Polish doesn't have them), idioms and phrasal verbs. I almost forgot: prepositions. Other than that it's OK I guess.

Other than that it's OK, I guess.

:-)))))...sort of like saying "We had a party yesterday. The guests barely showed, the food was spoiled and the few who came, left early. Aside from that, it was great! LOL

After English pronunciation, tenses, articles, idioms, and of course, prepositions, Gab, frankly, what's left??!

Marek

nouns and infinitives ;)

me work good ;)