Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 43

Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 43

Vます-form い-adj（～い） な-adj [な]

そうです

looks like

 

When the look of a thing leads you to a supposition, you can state your supposition using this sentence pattern. The supposition is basically based on the appearance of a thing, a person, scene, etc.

1) Vます-formそうです

When the present state makes the speaker presuppose an occurrence, the speaker uses this sentence pattern to state it. いまにも, もうすぐ, これから, etc., are added to refer to the time when the speaker thinks the occurrence will take place.

今にも雨が降りそうです。

It looks like it will rain at any moment.

シャンプーがなくなりそうです。

It looks like we are running out of shampoo.

もうすぐ桜が咲きそうです。

The cherry blossoms may soon be in bloom.

これから寒くなりそうです。

It seems it’ll be getting cold from now on.

2)

い-adj（～い） な-adj [な]

そうです

This means that although something has not been confirmed as a fact, it looks so judging from the appearance.

この料理は辛そうです。

This dish looks spicy.

彼女は頭がよさそうです。

She seems to have brain.

この机は丈夫そうです。

This desk looks strong and durable.

[Note] When you want to describe others’ feelings, adjectives expressing emotions (うれしい、かなしい、さびしい、etc.) should be used with ～そうです. This is because you can only guess how other people feel.

ミラーさんはうれしそうです。

Mr. Miller looks happy.

2. Vて-form来ます

1) Vて-formきます means “to go somewhere, do something and come back”.

ちょっとたばこを買って来ます。(*)

I’m just popping out to buy cigarettes.

(*) means the person goes to the place where cigarettes are sold, to buy some cigarettes there, and then come back to the place where the person was.

The place where the person goes and does something is indicated by で. Exceptionally it is indicated by からwhen a thing is moved from the place, and the move itself is the purpose of the person’s action.

スーパーで牛乳を買って来ます。

I’m going to the supermarket to buy some milk (and coming back).

台所からコップを取って来ます。

I’m going to fetch a glass from the kitchen.

2) N (place)へ行って来ます

The て-form ofいきますis used beforeきます in this pattern, which means “to go somewhere and then come back”. It is used when you don’t specify the action you do at the place where you go.

郵便局へ行って来ます。

I’m going to the post office (and coming back).

3) 出かけて来ます

The て-form ofでかけます is used beforeきます, which means “to go out and come back”. It is used when you don’t specify the place where you go nor the action you do at the place.

ちょっと出かけて来ます。

I’m going out (and coming back soon).

Related Post:
Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 44
Minna No Nihongo Lesson 43 Vocabulary