[JLPT N4] Still sleeping?：まだ＋[寝なかった・寝た・寝て・寝ている]?

[Practice Question]

カーテンが閉まっているから、田中さんはまだ(＿＿)ようだ。

*カーテンがしまっているから、たなかさんはまだ(＿＿)ようだ。

1　寝(ね)なかった

2　寝(ね)た

3　寝(ね)て

4　寝(ね)ている

▼

[Answer]

カーテンが閉まっているから、田中さんはまだ(4 寝ている)ようだ。

Because the curtains are closed, it seems Tanaka-san is still sleeping.

The key grammar here is:

まだ + 〜ている

= “still doing ~” / “still in that state”

まだ means “still.”

So it shows that the action or state is continuing now.

ongoing state

= 〜ている

寝る

→ 寝ている

= is sleeping / still sleeping

So, 寝ている is the best choice.

✖︎ Other Choices:

1 寝なかった

= past negative (“did not sleep”)

→ It does not show that he is sleeping now.

2 寝た

= past tense (“went to sleep / slept”)

→ The action is already finished.

3 寝て

= te-form

→ Te-form alone can’t connect to ようだ.

I hope this explanation helps! 😊

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