be going (or about) to :【verb stem form + そうです】

On this page, you can learn Japanese grammar for ‘be going (or about) to’.

Prerequisite

You need Verb Stem Form for this sentence pattern. Click here if you don’t know it.

Sentence pattern

Example

(The sky has been overcast with very dark clouds. It’s a bit far away but thunder is rumbling. There is no doubt about raining soon.)

Note

‘verb stem form + そうです’ is used when you can tell that something is going to (about to) happen as a consequence of the current situation.

Exercise

Task: Change into English.

• 明日は晴（は）れそうです。
• 赤ちゃんが生まれそうです。
• 私はねそうでした。
• 牛がしにそうです。

Kanji

Task: Change into Japanese, using そうです.

• It is about to snow.
• It is going to stop raining.
• A flower is about to bloom.
• My older brother was about to vomit.

Answer