〜そうだ (様態) expresses appearance based on direct observation - "looks like."
Formation:
• Verb stem + そう (降りそう = looks like it'll fall)
• い-adj (drop い) + そう (美味しそう = looks delicious)
• な-adj + そう (元気そう = looks healthy)
This dish looks delicious.
Based on what you see, not what you heard.
いい → よさそう, ない → なさそう
- ✅ よさそう、なさそう
- ❌ いそう、なそう
そうだ (様態) vs そうだ (伝聞)
- 美味しそう = looks delicious (you see it)
- 美味しいそうだ = I heard it's delicious
Can't use with visible characteristics
- ❌ 美人そう (beauty is visible, not inferred)
This cake looks delicious.
It looks like it will rain.
He looks healthy.
It looks like it might fall, so be careful.
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