Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 4: 3/18

そうにSeem, Look like, Sound

Negative Verb[ない] + そう, い-Adj [ない] + さ + そう

Structure

Verb［stem］+ そうに + Verb(1)
［い］Adjective［い］+ そうに + Verb(1)
［な］Adjective + そうに + Verb(1)
Verb［stem］(2) + そうな + Noun

(1) Adverb、［い］Adjective、［な］Adjective
(2) ［い］Adjective［い］、［な］Adjective

Details

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About そうに・そうな

そうだ is one of the 18 auxiliary verbs in Japanese, and can be used in the same way as な-Adjectives (may be followed by な when acting as an adjective, or に when acting as an adverb). This is a unique characteristic of そうだ and ようだ. It is not something that can be done with all auxiliary verbs. As with そうだ, そうに and そうな carry the meaning of 'seeming like (A)', or 'looking like (A)'.

Caution

そう may also be used when attached to the い-Adjective, ない. In this case, there is a unique conjugation rule which you will need to be careful of. As always, い will be removed from ない before attaching そう. However, さ will need to be inserted between な, and そう. This results in the construction なさそう.

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.

Related

Examples

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    これが入(はい)りそうな箱(はこ)ってある？

    Is there a box that looks like it might fit this?

    優(やさ)しそうに犬(いぬ)を撫(な)でた。

    She pet the dog in a way that seemed affectionate.

    今日(きょう)は雨(あめ)が降(ふ)りそうな日(ひ)ですね。

    It looks like today is going to be a rainy day doesn't it.

    彼(かれ)は分(わ)かりやすそうな説明(せつめい)をしたが、まだ理解(りかい)ができない。

    He gave an explanation that seemed easy to understand, but I still don't get it.

    つまらなそうな話(はなし)は聞(き)きたくない。

    I don't want to hear a story that sounds boring.

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そうに・そうな – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (30 in total)

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    Verb[stem] + そうな + Noun

    降り出す ⇒ 振り出します

    Verb[stem] = 振り出し

    ⇒「降り出しそうな」 (ta-da! )

  • Exosum

    Exosum

    By the way this sentence is still present with confusing N3 grammar point.

    これが入りそうな箱ってある

  • busnea

    busnea

    Why can’t you use そうに for nouns? Like noun + そうに + Verb . Because you can use it for ［な］Adjectives and Noun + の + よう + だ is possible.

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