GRAMMAR DETAIL

～そうだ

look; seem likely to

Attaches to a verb stem or adjective stem to express an impression based on what is immediately visible.

Examples

空が暗くなって、雨が降りそうだ。

The sky has grown dark, and it looks like it is going to rain.

焼きたてのパンはとてもおいしそうです。

The freshly baked bread looks very delicious.

この荷物はとても重そうです。

This luggage looks very heavy.

Structure: A verb's ます stem or an adjective stem is followed by そうだ.
Basic usage: 雨が降りそうだ expresses the impression that rain is likely, based on signs such as the sky's appearance.

Distinct from reported information
- 雨が降りそうだ is a judgment based on signs; 雨が降るそうだ reports information that it will rain. The difference between 降り and 降る changes the use.
Adjective forms
- Attach it as in 重い → 重そうだ and 元気だ → 元気そうだ. いい becomes よさそうだ, and a following noun takes な, as in 重そうな荷物.