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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 6

Structure of そう:

Verb[ます+ そう +
[い]Adjective[+ そう +
[な]Adjective + そう +

Negative:
Verb[ない+ な + そう +
[い]Adjective [ない] + + そう +
[な]Adjective + では(1)ない + + そう +

Exceptions:
いい → よ + そう + そう

(1) じゃ

Details about そう:

そうだ is one of the 18 primary auxiliary verbs in Japanese, and can be used in two (2) different ways. The broad meaning in each of its applications is that something 'seems' to be a certain way. Due to this, そう is regularly translated as 'seems like', 'looks like', or 'appears as though'.
In this lesson, we will focus on the form that is used with the conjunctive (stem) form of words. Please examine the structure guide to see these forms.
  • 彼女(かのじょ)毎日(まいにち)(はし)そう
    She seems like she runs everyday.
  • これ(ただ)そう
    This seems correct.
  • あの店員(てんいん)丁寧(ていねい)そう
    That clerk seems like he is attentive.
そう

Usage Notes for そう:

そう may also be used when attached to the い-Adjective, ない. In this case, there is a unique conjugation rule which we will need to be careful of. As always, い will be removed from ない before attaching そう. However, さ will be inserted between な, and そう. This creates the expression なさそう.
  • (かれ)部屋(へや)(きたな)くなさそうだ
    His room doesn't seem messy.
  • あの(くるま)(ちい)さく便利(べんり)じゃなさそう
    That car is small, and looks inconvenient.
Note that this addition of さ does not happen with verbs. This is due to the ない that is used with negative verbs being an auxiliary verb, and not an い-Adjective. With the auxiliary verb ない, simply remove the い, before adding そう directly to the stem.
  • (かれ)もうイギリス(かえ)そうだ
    It appears that he is not going back to England.
This そう is utilized exclusively to make predictions/guesses about something based on visual information. It is relatively low confidence, so should not be used for things that are obvious. In these cases, みたい would be used instead.
  • 明日(あした)(あさ)から(あめ)()みたいだ
    It looks like it is going to start raining tomorrow morning. (Higher confidence)
  • 明日(あした)(あさ)から(あめ)()そうだ
    It seems like it is going to start raining tomorrow morning. (Lower confidence)

Synonyms for そう:

みたい
Like, Similar to, Resembling
らしい ①
Seems like, Apparently, I heard
のように・のような
Like (Noun), Similar to (Noun)
ように・ような
As・like, Just like
にみえる
To look, To seem, To appear
ような気がする
Have a feeling that
っぽい
-ish, -like, Characteristic of, Typical of, Tendency to
そうもない
Very unlikely to, Does not seem that, Does not appear that
そうにない
Unlikely to, Showing no signs of

Example of そう

(ゆき)()そうです

It looks like it is going to snow.

先生(せんせい)仕事(しごと)(むずか)そうです

The job of being a teacher looks hard.

今日(きょう)宿題(しゅくだい)簡単(かんたん)そう

Today's homework looks easy.

その()(もの)()べやすそう

That food looks easy to eat.

この教科書(きょうかしょ)とても(むずか)そうです

This textbook seems very difficult.

Grammar same lesson

より

More than, Over
See detailsreport

に (Frequency)

Times (In each time period), Every, Frequency of
See detailsreport

~る所(ところ)だ

About to, On the verge of
See detailsreport

毎(ごと)に

Each, Every, At intervals of
See detailsreport

と思(おも)う

I think
See detailsreport
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