Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 4: 3/18

そうにSeem, Look like, Sound

Negative Verb[な] + そう, い-Adj [な] + + そう

Structure

Verb[ます+ そう + Verb(1)
[い]Adjective[+ そう + Verb(1)
[な]Adjective + そう + Verb(1)
Verb[ます(2) + そう + Noun

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

  • すご(から)くなさそうに()
    Wow! You eat it like it's not spicy.
  • 大事(だいじ)じゃなさそうな(もの)()てもいい
    You can throw away anything that does not look important.

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.

  • あの(ひと)(おこ)そうな(かお)ているけどいつも(おこ)ている
    He does not look like he gets angry a lot, but actually he is always angry.
  • (かれ)美味(おい)くなさそうに(はん)()ている
    He is eating his food like it does not taste good.

Examples

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    これ(はい)りそうな(はこ)ってある?

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

    今日(きょう)(あめ)()りそうな()です

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

    (やさ)しそうに(いぬ)()でた。

    She pet the dog in a way that seemed affectionate.

    (かれ)()かりやすそうな説明(せつめい)をしたまだ理解(りかい)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(はなし)()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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