Verb stem / Adj stem + そうだ

[Appearance / Conjecture from Observation]

Connection:

• Verb stem + そうだ
• い-adjective stem (drop い) + そうだ
• な-adjective stem + そうだ

This pattern expresses the speaker's conjecture based on visual observation or current appearance. It means "looks like" or "seems like" something is about to happen or is in a certain state.

Formation:

• Verb STEM + そうだ: 降りそうだ (looks like it will fall), 食べそうだ (looks like will eat)
• い-adjective (drop い) + そうだ: おいしそうだ (looks delicious), 高そうだ (looks expensive)
• な-adjective stem + そうだ: 元気そうだ (looks energetic), 便利そうだ (looks convenient)

Exceptions:

• いい → よさそうだ (looks good)
• ない → なさそうだ (looks like there isn't)

Important distinction: Do NOT confuse with そうだ（伝聞）which uses plain form and means "I heard that." This そうだ is based on the speaker's own visual judgment, not reported information.

Examples:

• 雨が降りそうです。(It looks like it's going to rain.)
• このケーキはおいしそうだ。(This cake looks delicious.)
• 彼は元気そうに見えますね。(He looks energetic, doesn't he?)