Structure
Verb［ます］+ そうもない
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About そうもない
そうもない is an expression used with verbs in Japanese, to indicate that some particular action is very unlikely. It is a combination of the auxiliary verb そう, the adverbial particle も, and the い-Adjective ない.
To recap, one of the primary uses of そう is to highlight appearance. Therefore, そうもない literally means 'to not even appear like (A)'. This structure will be used after verbs in their conjunctive form.
Caution
そうもない is very similar to そうにない. The primary difference being that そうもない is stronger. This is due to も expressing something that is surprising (or for emphasis), while に simply marks a location (or state) within which something does or does not exist. The difference can be understood as follows:
(A) そうもない - To not even look like (A), where 'even' emphasizes (A).
(A) そうにない - To not be looking like (A), where 'be' marks where (A) is 'not' existing.
Caution
そうもない is an expression that is very commonly used with potential verbs, in order to convey that the 'possibility' of something cannot be observed. While this translates as 'to not appear as if (A) can be done', realistically it comes across quite strongly, similar to 'to not stand a chance of doing (A)'.
- こんな量、食べられそうもない。This amount, it doesn't even seem like I can eat it! (There is way too much to even seem possible to eat)
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今日は１１時まで帰って来ないかもしれないから、いつも見ているテレビ番組が見られそうもない。Today, I might not be coming home until 11, so I might not be able to watch the show I always watch.
Synonyms
っこない
There is no chance of, There is no way of, Impossible
Not studied yet
はずがない
Hardly possible, Cannot be, Highly unlikely, Improbable
Not studied yet
わけがない
There is no way, There is no reason, It is impossible, Cannot be
Not studied yet
ようがない・ようもない
There's no way to, It's impossible to
Not studied yet
そうにない
Unlikely to, Showing no signs of
Not studied yet
Antonyms
Examples
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今回のテストは受かりそうもない。
It is very unlikely I will pass the test this time.
このテーブルは重たいから、一人で運べそうもない。
Since this table is so heavy, it's very unlikely that I'll be able to carry it by myself.
あの人、僕の意見を聞いてくれそうもない。
It is very unlikely that that person will listen to my opinion.
そんなすごい技、僕にはできそうもない。
It's very unlikely that I will be able to perform such a cool trick.
予報は雨だけど、全然降りそうもない。
The forecast predicted rain, but it doesn't appear that it will rain at all.
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Online
The various forms of そう in action
Japanese Stack Exchange
そうもない vs. ようがない
Japanese Stack Exchange
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そうもない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
megatron0000
Would I be correct to think that
あのケーキは全部食べられるはずがない
Would mean “(It is obvious) I cannot eat all that take !”
While
(私は)あのケーキは全部食べられそうもない
Would mean that it is not a case of “being obvious from the start”, but that something is happening from which it seems I will not be able to eat all the cake (maybe I am showing signs of it even before finishing half of the cake)
Daru
はず is more of a prediction/estimate, like you’re contrasting your cake-eating experiences to the now hypothetical cake in front of you.
そうもない is just stating impossibility, and has a nuance of ‘giving up’ to it, like it’s so much of X that you can’t handle it.
So yeah, what you’re describing sounds right to me!
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