すでに details
already + write + (past)
sudeni kaita
already; by now — the change was complete before the moment being talked about
meaning: have already written
その件なら、すでに報告した。
sono ken nara, sudeni houkokushita.
As for that matter, I have already reported it. neutral
申込みの受付はすでに終了いたしました。
moushikomi no uketsuke wa sudeni shuuryou itashimashita.
Applications have already closed. formal
- た-form
- て-form
- noun
- alternant
Examples
already; by now — the act was over before the point in time under discussion
その件なら、すでに報告した。
sono ken nara, sudenihoukokushita.
As for that matter, I have already reported it. neutral
申込みの受付はすでに終了いたしました。
moushikomi no uketsuke wa sudeni shuuryou itashimashita.
Applications have already closed. formal
気がつくと、外はすでに夜だった。
ki ga tsuku to, soto wa sudeni yoru datta.
Before I knew it, it was already night outside. neutral
その問題については、既に何度も議論されている。
sono mondai ni tsuite wa, sudeni nando mo giron sarete iru.
That issue has already been discussed many times over. neutral
Formation
すでに{V-ta}attaches to た-formすでに{V-te}いるattaches to て-formすでに{N}だattaches to noun
Variant notes
- 既に — the kanji spelling, at home in reports and notices; kana is commoner in running prose, and the choice between them moves nothing but the look of the page.
Related patterns
Similar
すでに belongs to writing and formal announcements while もう is at home in speech as well — and もう doubles as a quantifier (もう一杯, もう少し) and as "soon" (もう着くよ), neither of which すでに can do.
てしまう is at home in casual speech, where すでに cannot go at all — 食べちゃった has a spoken shape すでに食べた has no counterpart for, and only てしまう can add the regret.
Opposite
- まだalready-vs-not-yet
The two halves of one timeline, both at home in writing — すでに提出した dates the act before the moment in question, while まだ提出していない says that moment passed without it.