German Phrase
Die meisten Gäste haben schon geantwortet.
Meaning
The sentence states that the majority of the invited guests have already sent their replies. It is a concise way to report the status of RSVPs or any kind of response in a group setting.
When to use
Use this phrase after you have sent out invitations, surveys, or any request that requires a reply, and you want to inform colleagues, friends, or organizers that most people have already responded.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DiemeistenGästehabenschongeantwortet
Definite article (plural)
‘Die’ is the nominative plural definite article used before plural nouns.
Superlative adjective with article
‘meisten’ is the superlative form of ‘viel’ and takes the weak ending –en after the definite article in the nominative plural.
Plural noun
‘Gäste’ is the plural of ‘Gast’ and follows the regular plural pattern with -e.
Perfect tense auxiliary
‘haben’ is the auxiliary verb used with ‘geantwortet’ to form the perfect tense.
Adverb ‘schon’
‘schon’ means ‘already’ and is placed before the past participle in the perfect construction.
Past participle
‘geantwortet’ is the past participle of ‘antworten’ and follows the ‘ge‑…‑t’ pattern.
🗨In Conversation
Wie viele Gäste haben sich schon gemeldet?
How many guests have already responded?
Die meisten Gäste haben schon geantwortet.
Most of the guests have already responded.
✕Common Mistakes
Die meisten Gäste hat schon geantwortet.
The verb must agree with the plural subject ‘Gäste’, so use ‘haben’.
Die meisten Gäste haben schon antworten.
In the perfect tense you need the past participle ‘geantwortet’, not the infinitive.
Die meisten Gäste haben geantwortet schon.
Placing ‘schon’ after the participle changes the meaning; it should stay before the participle.
↔Alternatives
Die meisten Gäste haben bereits geantwortet.
Most of the guests have already responded.
Fast alle Gäste haben schon geantwortet.
Almost all guests have already responded.
Die Mehrheit der Gäste hat bereits geantwortet.
The majority of the guests has already responded.
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking countries RSVPs (Zusagen) are taken seriously, especially for formal events. Saying ‘schon’ emphasizes that the responses arrived earlier than expected, while ‘bereits’ sounds slightly more formal. Be aware that the verb must agree with the plural subject – ‘haben’, not ‘hat’.