The previous article covered the basic usage of appearance-based そうだ (it looks like...). This article tackles two advanced topics: how to negate it and how to put it in past tense.
Negating Appearance: Three Patterns
1. なさそうだ -- It doesn't look like...
The most common negative form. Adjective + なさそうだ = it doesn't look...
| Type | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| い-adjective | Drop い + くなさそうだ | 重くなさそうだ |
| な-adjective | Stem + でなさそうだ | 静かでなさそうだ |
-
この重くなさそうな荷物を持ち上げようとしたが、できなかった。 → I tried to lift this luggage that didn't look heavy, but I couldn't.
-
静かでなさそうな所に部屋を借りたくない。 → I don't want to rent a room in a place that doesn't look quiet.
なさそうだ = a direct judgment based on what you see -- it doesn't appear to be that way.
2. そうもない / そうにない -- It's unlikely to happen
Used only with verbs. Expresses "I predict this won't happen."
- この車は売れそうもない。 → This car doesn't look like it will sell well. (Based on your overall assessment, you don't think it will be popular.)
そうもない = based on your prediction, this is unlikely to happen.
3. なさそうだ vs そうもない -- A subtle difference with verbs
When negating verbs in the appearance form, there are two options with different nuances:
| そうもない | なさそうだ | |
|---|---|---|
| Perspective | Prediction (overall assessment) | Appearance (what you see) |
| Example | この車は売れそうもない | この車は売れなさそうだ |
| Nuance | I predict this car won't sell well | This car looks like it won't sell at a glance |
-
この車は売れそうもない。 → You've analyzed the model, price, and competition, and predict it won't sell well.
-
この車は売れなさそうだ。 → You took one look at the design and felt it just won't sell.
Bonus: そうではない -- Not yet in that state
Negating そうだ as a whole = it's not in that state yet (implying it might change later).
- このケーキはおいしそうではない。 → This cake doesn't look delicious yet. (It's not finished -- it only has one layer of plain frosting so far.)
Compare:
- おいしくなさそうだ → The cake is done, and it simply doesn't look good.
- おいしそうではない → It's not finished yet, so it doesn't look appetizing at the moment.
Past Tense of Appearance: そうだった = It almost happened
Adding past tense to appearance-based そうだ = it almost happened (but ultimately didn't).
| Form | Meaning |
|---|---|
| そうだった | It almost... |
| そうでした | It almost... (polite) |
| そうになった | It almost turned into... |
- 盗まれそうだった。 → It was almost stolen.
- 転びそうになった。 → I almost tripped.
The logic: "about to happen" + past tense = "it was about to happen, but it's now in the past" = it didn't happen = a close call.
Bonus: そうだ for Psychological Feelings
Sometimes そうだ doesn't describe what you see, but rather the speaker's own psychological state (limited to things that concern the speaker personally).
-
試験に出そうなところをよく勉強した。 → I studied hard the parts that seemed likely to appear on the exam. (A mental prediction, not something seen with the eyes.)
-
お腹が空いて死にそうだ。 → I'm so hungry I could die. (A psychological feeling, not literally about to die.)
This usage always relates to the speaker (私は).
Nouns Cannot Directly Attach to そうだ
Nouns don't have an appearance form. To say "it looks like...," use a different expression:
| Method | Example |
|---|---|
| みたいだ | このリンゴは梨みたいだ (This apple looks like a pear) |
| に見える | 先生に見える (Looks like a teacher) |
Self-Test
Q1. The car looks like it won't sell just from its appearance. Which one do you use?
A. 売れそうもない B. 売れなさそうだ
Show answer
B. 売れなさそうだ. A direct impression from the appearance = なさそうだ. If it were an overall prediction that it won't sell well, you'd use 売れそうもない.
Q2. What does 「転びそうになった」 mean?
Show answer
I almost tripped. Appearance form + past tense = it almost happened but didn't.
Q3. What's the difference between 「このケーキはおいしそうではない」 and 「おいしくなさそうだ」?
Show answer
そうではない = the cake isn't finished yet, so it doesn't look delicious at the moment (implying it might look better later). なさそうだ = the cake is done, and it simply doesn't look good.
Summary
- なさそうだ = it doesn't look like... (the most common negative form)
- そうもない / そうにない = it's unlikely to happen (verbs only)
- With verbs, なさそうだ = judgment from appearance; そうもない = judgment from prediction
- そうではない = not yet in that state
- そうだった / そうになった = it almost happened
- Nouns can't directly attach to そうだ -- use みたいだ or に見える instead