JLPT N2 grammar

〜そうにないmeaning and usage

Meaning

There's little chance/possibility of A

How to form it

  • verb (masu-stem)そうにない
  • verb (masu-stem)そうもない

How it is used

After the masu-stem: judging from the present situation, A is unlikely: 'doesn't look like it will…'. It often goes with potential verbs, as in 「行けそうにない」. 「そうもない」 means the same, slightly more emphatic.

Examples

  1. 今日は仕事が終わらなくて休めそうにない。

    My work won't get finished today, so it doesn't look like I'll get any rest.

  2. この雨は、夜まで止みそうにない。

    It doesn't look like this rain will stop before evening.

  3. 宿題が多すぎて、今日中に終わりそうにない。

    I have too much homework; it doesn't look like I'll finish today.