German Phrase
Noch nicht? Ist es gut?
Meaning
The speaker first asks “Not yet?” – a quick check on whether something is finished or ready. The follow‑up “Is it good?” asks for an evaluation of the result. Together they convey curiosity about progress and quality.
When to use
Use this two‑part question when you want to know if a task, dish, project, or any ongoing activity is completed and whether the outcome meets expectations. It’s common in informal conversations among friends, colleagues, or family members.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nochnicht?Istesgut?
Noch nicht
A fixed adverbial phrase meaning “not yet”. It combines the adverb “noch” (still) with the negation “nicht”.
Verb‑Subject Order
In yes‑no questions German uses verb‑first order: “Ist” (is) comes before the subject “es”.
Pronoun “es”
The neuter pronoun “es” refers to a previously mentioned thing, situation, or abstract idea.
Adjective “gut”
“gut” is a predicative adjective placed after the verb “sein”. No ending is added because it follows “sein”.
🗨In Conversation
Noch nicht?
Not yet?
Ist es gut?
Is it good?
✕Common Mistakes
Noch nicht? Ist er gut?
Use “es” because the subject is neuter; “er” would refer to a masculine noun.
Noch nicht? Ist es gut
End the question with a question mark; otherwise it reads as a statement.
Noch nicht? Ist es gutes?
Do not add an ending to “gut” after “sein”; the adjective stays in its base form.
↔Alternatives
Noch nicht fertig? Wie ist es?
Not finished yet? How is it?
Schon fertig? Gefällt es dir?
Done already? Do you like it?
Ist das schon gut?
Is that already good?
Cultural Tip
German speakers tend to be direct, so asking “Ist es gut?” is perfectly acceptable even in casual settings. However, if you want to sound extra polite, you can add “Bitte” at the end: “Ist es gut, bitte?” Also note that “noch nicht” is often used alone as a short answer to “Bist du fertig?” (Are you finished?).