すぐに vs もうすぐ (sugu ni vs mousugu) :JLPT Grammar

[Student’s sentence]

 

息子は学校から帰るともうすぐ遊びに行った。
My son went to play immediately after he got home from school.

*むすこはがっこうからかえるともうすぐあそびにいった。

 






 

[My correction]

 

息子は学校から帰るともうすぐ遊びに行った。
→息子は学校から帰るとすぐに遊びに行った。
My son went to play immediately after he got home from school.

 

すぐに indicates that something will happen immediately after another event, without any pause. もうすぐ suggests that something will happen a little later, implying a short delay from the present moment. Here, すぐに is appropriate because it conveys that my son went off to play right after he got home.

 

Examples:

私(わたし)が降(お)りてすぐにバスは走(はし)り出(だ)した。
The bus started running immediately after I got off.

 

もうすぐバスが来(き)ますから急(いそ)いでください。
Please hurry, the bus will be here soon.

 

In the JLPT course, each lesson includes homework. Submit your homework, and I’ll provide corrections. I’ll break down Japanese grammar, highlighting mistakes and explaining structures and nuances in a simple way. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need—I’m here to help you understand!