[Common Mistakes] Don’t confuse the two meanings of 〜そう!
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Today, I am going to share a homework correction from my JLPT Course! The student’s sentence is not correct. Can you find the mistake?
[Student’s sentence]
かばんが開いています。スマホが落ちるそうです。
*かばんがあいています。スマホがおちるそうです。
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[My correction]
かばんが開いています。スマホが落ちるそうです。
→かばんが開いています。スマホが落ちそうです。
Your bag is open. Your smartphone looks like it’s about to fall out.
In this sentence, 「〜そう」 has two main meanings depending on the form of the verb that comes before it.
「落ちる (V dictionary form)＋そう」 (hearsay)
スマホが落ちるそうです。
I heard your smartphone will fall.
「落ち (V masu-stem)＋そう」(based on what you see)
スマホが落ちそうです。
Your smartphone looks like it’s about to fall.
Since you’re describing what you see happening in the moment, the correct form is 落ちそう.
Examples:
電車(でんしゃ)が出(で)そうです。
It looks like the train is about to leave.
彼(かれ)は泣(な)きそうです。
He looks like he’s about to cry.
そのコップが倒(たお)れそうです。
That glass looks like it’s about to tip over.
I hope my explanation helps you.😊
I interact like the above correction with my JLPT All-in-One Course student. (Today’s homework sentence is from the N4, elementary level. Not sure of your Japanese level? Then take a level test here.) I can explain in English or Japanese, depending on your level.
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