Quiz : seem・look like 15-1
Adjective-そうです
Verbます -そうです
Plain Form-ようです
Plain Form-らしいです
Adjective そうです
meaning : It looks …
It is used to talk about the impression that the speaker felt.
きょうは あつそうですね。 kyō [wa] atsu-sōdesu [ne]. ( It looks hot today. ) |
この もんだいは かんたんそうです。 kono mondai [wa] kantan-sōdesu. ( The question looks easy. ) |
この ケーキ、ほんとうに おいしそうですね。 kono kēki, hontō-ni oishi-sōdesu [ne]. ( This cake looks really delicious. ) |
i-Adjective (
na-Adjective そうです
compare
meaning : I heard that …
ともだちから ききましたが、あそこの みせの ケーキは ほんとうに おいしいそうです。 tomodachi [kara] kiki-mashita-ga, asoko [no] mise [no] kēki [wa] hontō-ni oishi-sōdesu. ( I heard from my friend that the cake at that shop is really delicious. ) |
Verbます そうです
meaning : It will happen soon …
Something is about to happen, and you can see it from the appearance.

りんごが おちそうです。 ringo [ga] ochi-sōdesu. ( It looks like an apple is falling soon. ) |
そらが くらくて、あめが ふりそうです。 sora [ga] kura-kute, ame [ga] furi-sōdesu. ( The sky is dark, and it will rain soon. ) |
“Momentary Verbs ( = a verb which means a short duration action )” is used.
momentary verbs examples :
おちます ochi-masu | to fall, drop |
ふります furi-masu | to drop rain or snow |
きえます kie-masu | ( the fire ) goes out |
きれます kire-masu | ( the thread ) breaks ( the battery ) runs out |
とれます tore-masu | ( the button ) comes off |
Verb
compare
meaning : I heard that …
あさの ニュースによると、きょうは あめが ふるそうです。 așa [no] nyūsu-ni-yoru-to, kyō [wa] ame [ga] furu-sōdesu. ( According to the morning news, it’ll rain today. ) |
Plain Form ようです
meaning : It seems …
You think it is true due to your feeling or the appearance of something. It is used in the same way as “らしいです”, but the difference is that “ようです” can be used to say your personal idea.
きょうは しあいが あるようです。たくさんの ひとが きゅうじょうへ むかっていました。 kyō [wa] shiai [ga] aru-yōdesu. takusan [no] hito [ga] kyūjō [e] mukatte-imashita. ( It looks like they have a game today. Many people were heading to the stadium. ) |
( わたしは ) ガムを ふんだようです。べたべたします。 watashi [wa] ) gamu [o] funda-yōdesu. betabeta shi-masu. ( It seems that I stepped on gum. It’s sticky. ) |
Plain Form ようです
( na-Adjective
Plain Form らしいです
meaning : It seems …
You think it is true from what you can see or have heard. It is used in the same way as “ようです”.
You guessed it based on some evidence.
きょうは しあいが あるらしいです。たくさんの ひとが きゅうじょうへ むかっていました。 kyō [wa] shiai [ga] aru-rashīdesu. akusan [no] hito [ga] kyūjō [e] mukatte-imashita. ( It looks like they have a game today. Many people were heading to the stadium. ) |
“らしいです” should not be used to say your personal idea.
[ ?? ] ( わたしは ) ガムを ふんだらしいです。べたべたします。
( watashi [wa] ) gamu [o] funda-rashīdesu. betabeta shi-masu.
Plain Form らしいです
( na-Adjective
I went to my friend’s wedding yesterday. The bride looked kind, and he looked happy.
きのう ともだちの けっこんしきに いきました。およめさんは ( )。
My cell phone is almost out of battery. May I borrow your charger?
( )。 じゅうでんきを かしてもらえませんか?
I have a headache, and it seems that I have a fever.
あたまが いたくて、( )。
According to the yesterday’s TV program, young people don’t drink much these days.
きのう テレビで みましたが、いまの わかいひとは ( )。

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