Minna No Nihongo Lesson 43 Grammar

Minna no Nihongo grammar lesson 43 today talks about two main grammar points: one is about [そうです], and the other is the verb form て+ きます. [そうです] here does not mean the same as we have learned before, it means a whole new meaning with certain rules attached. In addition, the verb form て + きます is a very important grammatical point because this grammatical structure appears a lot in Japanese language competitions, especially about finding synonyms.

1. そうです
This sentence pattern basically describes speculation based on information gathered from sight

The verb form ます + そうです
Meaning: Seems to be
Usage: when a state causes people to speculate that something is likely to happen
For example:
あめがふりそうです
It looked like it was about to rain

シャンプーがなくなりそうです
The shampoo seems to be about to run out

Tailed adjectives い (omitted [い]) / Tailed adjectives な (omitted [な]) + そうです
Meaning: It seems
Usage: express speculation based on the appearance of things, though not confirmed how reality
Example:
このりょうりはおいしそうです
This dish looks delicious

このつくえはじょうぶそうです
This the table looks solid

2. The verb form て + きます

The verb form て + きます
Meaning: Going to a certain point to perform a certain act and then returning
For example:
ちょっとたばこをかってきます。
I went to buy some cigarettes and then returned
Note: In this sentence pattern, we use [で] to denote the location . [から] can also be used if the movement of objects is the focal point of the sentence
Example:
スーパーでミルクをかってきます
I went to the supermarket to buy milk and then back

だいどころからコップをとってきます
I went to get the cup from the kitchen

Noun (location) へ いって　きます
Meaning: Going to a certain place and then returning
For example:
ゆうびんきょくへいってきます
I came to the post office then back

でかけて きます
Meaning: Going somewhere out then returning
For example:
ちょっと でかけて きます
I went out for a bit and then went home.

Related Post: Minna No Nihongo Lesson 43 Vocabulary