Japanese grammar
What does ～そうにない mean? Japanese grammar N1
～そうにない means unlikely to…; seems hard to….
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N1 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Vます形 + そうにない |
| Romaji | souninai |
| Meaning | unlikely to…; seems hard to… |
Forming it
| Verb (end) | 終わり + そうにない |
|---|---|
| Verb (stop) | 止み + そうにない |
How to use it
A negative observational prediction: judging from the situation, it's unlikely to happen.
- 「～そうにない」 = judging from the situation, it's unlikely to happen; the negative form of 「～そうだ」 (observational prediction).
- Nearly synonymous with 「～そうもない」 (N1-174); 「そうにない」 is neutral, while 「そうもない」 is more emphatic.
- Attaches to the MASU-STEM; not used with 「そうにないだ」.
Examples
この書類は明日までに終わりそうにない。
It doesn’t look like these documents will be done by tomorrow.
雨は当分やみそうにない。
The rain doesn’t look like it will stop for a while.
Keep in mind
- Attaches to the masu-stem.
- This is an observational prediction, not hearsay.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong終わるそうにない。
It doesn't look like it will get finished.
Correct終わりそうにない。
Attaches to the MASU-STEM (終わり), not the dictionary form.
-
Wrong雨が降ったそうにない。
It doesn't look like it will rain.
Correct雨は降りそうにない。
This is an observational PREDICTION (not yet happened); it's not used with the た-form.
Exam tips
- 「そうにない」 = looks unlikely to happen; attaches to the masu-stem, ≒「そうもない」.