すでに

About

既すでに is a formal adverb that means "already".

🥨 既すでに has no particular attachment rules and can come at the start of a sentence or in the middle.

既すでに's usage can be split into three categories, with some overlap:

① expressing that an action has already been completed:

E.g. それはすでにしました。 "I've already done that."

② Expressing that something was "already the case" at a given point in time:

E.g. マイクとはすでに10年ねん以上いじょうの付つき合あいがあった。 "I had already known Mike for 10 years."

③ Expressing that something is certain/already decided:

E.g. このことがすでに権威けんいの失墜しっついを物語ものがたっている。 "This shows that (their) decline of power is already confirmed."

もう is more casual, but may be used interchangeably with 既すでに for usages ① and ②. It may replace 既すでに in ③ sentences but does not retain the "certain/already decided" nuance.

Summary

• 

  既すでに is a formal adverb that means "already"

• 

  既すでに can come at the start, or in the middle of a sentence

• 

  既すでに's usage can be split into three categories, with some overlap: ① expressing that an action has already been completed; ② Expressing that something was "already the case" at a given point in time; ③ Expressing that something is certain/already decided.