Japanese grammar
What does ～そうもない mean? Japanese grammar N1
～そうもない means hardly likely to…; very unlikely to….
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N1 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Vます形 + そうもない |
| Romaji | soumonai |
| Meaning | hardly likely to…; very unlikely to… |
Forming it
| Verb (finish) | 終え + そうもない |
|---|---|
| Verb (ability) | でき + そうもない |
How to use it
Like 「～そうにない」 but 「も」 makes the tone more emphatic: almost certainly not.
- 「～そうもない」 = looks like it simply won't happen. The 「も」 makes the tone more EMPHATIC than 「そうにない」 (N1-173).
- Used when the speaker is fairly certain it won't come to pass.
- Attaches to the MASU-STEM, like 「そうにない」.
Examples
今日中にこの仕事を終えそうもない。
There’s no way I’ll finish this work today.
一人ではとてもできそうもない。
I could hardly do this alone.
Keep in mind
- Attaches to the masu-stem.
- More emphatic than 「そうにない」.
Common mistakes
-
Wrongできるそうもない。
It doesn't look like it can be done.
Correctできそうもない。
Attaches to the MASU-STEM (でき), not the dictionary form.
-
Wrong雨がやみそうもないだ。
It doesn't look like the rain will stop.
Correct雨がやみそうもない。
「そうもない」 already functions as a sentence-final negative on its own — don't add 「だ」.
Exam tips
- 「そうもない」 ≒ 「そうにない」 but more emphatic (「も」).