そうもない / そうにない

そうもない / そうにない means unlikely to; shows no sign of. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to say something does not look likely to happen.

This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to say something does not look likely to happen, そうもない / そうにない is a useful pattern to learn.

What does そうもない / そうにない mean?

Use そうもない / そうにない when you want to say something does not look likely to happen.

Natural translations include:

• unlikely to; shows no sign of
• unlikely to
• unlikely to / shows no sign of

The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer’s or speaker’s purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.

How to form そうもない / そうにない

Verb ます-stem + そうもない / そうにない

Examples of the pattern:

• 終わりそうにない
• 雨がやみそうもない
• 間に合いそうにない

The form before the grammar point matters. In JLPT questions, the wrong answer choices often use a similar meaning but attach it to the wrong type of word.

When is そうもない / そうにない used?

Use そうもない / そうにない in situations like:

• judging likelihood from signs
• negative predictions
• tasks that show no sign of ending

Tone and register:

• neutral
• Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

そうもない / そうにない example sentences

• この仕事は今日中に終わりそうにない。 — This work does not look likely to finish today.
• 雨はしばらくやみそうもない。 — The rain does not look likely to stop for a while.
• 彼は来そうにない。 — He does not seem likely to come.
• 電車に間に合いそうもない。 — It does not look like I will make the train.
• この問題は簡単には解決しそうにない。 — This problem does not seem likely to be solved easily.

After reading each sentence, ask what job そうもない / そうにない is doing: saying something does not look likely to happen. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.

Nuance of そうもない / そうにない

The key nuance is negative visual or situational likelihood.

This matters because そうもない / そうにない does more than translate one English phrase. It shows how the speaker connects ideas, evaluates a situation, or frames the sentence for the listener.

For example:

• In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
• Compared with そうだ, it has a different focus and level of formality.

そうもない / そうにない vs そうだ

Both そうもない / そうにない and そうだ can appear in related situations, but they are different.

そうもない / そうにない:

• means unlikely to; shows no sign of
• fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

そうだ:

• そうだ can mean “looks like”; そうにない specifically negates the likelihood of happening

Quick contrast examples:

• Target: この仕事は今日中に終わりそうにない。 — This work does not look likely to finish today.
• Compare: Try replacing it with そうだ and check whether the nuance still matches.

If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the sentence casual, formal, written, explanatory, or emotional? The tone often tells you which grammar point is natural.

Common mistakes with そうもない / そうにない

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using dictionary form before そうにない
• Confusing appearance そう with hearsay そうだ
• Using it for facts you already know for certain

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with そうもない / そうにない, then rewrite it with そうだ. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words.

Is そうもない / そうにない on the JLPT?

Yes. そうもない / そうにない is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning.

Practice questions for そうもない / そうにない

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say work is unlikely to finish today.
• Say rain shows no sign of stopping.
• Say someone seems unlikely to come.

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.

Learning path for そうもない / そうにない

To learn そうもない / そうにない efficiently, review plain negation first, then practice stronger “no way / cannot” meanings with clear evidence.

1. First, make sure you can form そうもない / そうにない without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with そうだ, わけがない. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write sentences where the context proves something is impossible or unlikely; then check whether replacing そうもない / そうにない with ようがない changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• そうだ — because it is the closest comparison used in this article.
• わけがない — because it helps separate impossibility, strong negation, and inability.
• ようがない — because it helps separate impossibility, strong negation, and inability.
• 切れない（きれない） — because it helps separate impossibility, strong negation, and inability.

Learn そうもない / そうにない with Hane

If you want to review そうもない / そうにない together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

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