そうにない
Unlikely to, Showing no signs of
Structure
(1) そうにもない
Explanation
The grammar pattern そうにない shares a similar meaning with そうもない ('very unlikely to A'), but carries a slightly weaker nuance. In this structure, the particle に is used in place of も. Beyond just expressing that something is unlikely, it can also suggest that something is 'showing no indication of (A)'.
そうにない attaches to the pre-ます form of the verb it modifies to indicate that an action is unlikely to occur.- この宿題、今日中に終わりそうにないよ。どうしよう…。It looks like I'm not going to finish this homework today. What should I do...
- バスがなかなか来そうにないから、歩いて行きましょう。The bus shows no sign of coming, so let's just walk.
On occasion, you may also encounter そうにもない. Among そうにない, そうもない, and そうにもない, this form carries the most forceful nuance of unlikelihood. The sole distinction among these three structures lies in the presence, absence, or combination of the particles に and も.
- 雨は当分止みそうにもないね。もう帰ろうか。It really doesn't look like the rain is going to stop anytime soon. Should we head home?
- この問題は難しすぎて、誰にも解けそうにもない。This problem is so difficult, it seems completely unsolvable by anyone.
Since this grammar is a negative variation of the auxiliary verb そう (used for speculation or appearance), it simply conveys that something does not look like it is going to happen.
Examples
この雨は、簡単には止みそうにない。
This rain doesn't look like it will stop anytime soon.
今日中にこの仕事は終わりそうにない。
It doesn't seem likely that this work will be finished by the end of today.
こんなにたくさん、一人では食べられそうにない。
There's so much food, it's unlikely I'll be able to eat it all by myself.
薬を飲んだけど、熱は下がりそうにない。
I took some medicine, but my fever is showing no signs of going down.
何回説明しても、彼は理解しそうにない。
No matter how many times I explain it, it's unlikely that he will understand.
家中探したけど、鍵は見つかりそうにない。
I've looked all over the house, but it seems unlikely that I'll find my keys.
おなかが空いているのか、赤ちゃんは泣き止みそうにない。
The baby must be hungry; he is showing no signs of stopping crying.
この点差では、逆転して勝てそうにない。
With this point difference, it's unlikely we can make a comeback and win.
物価は上がるばかりで、安くなりそうにない。
Prices just keep going up; they're unlikely to get any cheaper.
努力なしでは、夢は叶いそうにない。
Without hard work, it is unlikely that my dream will come true.
バスが渋滞に巻き込まれて、時間どおりには着きそうにない。
The bus is caught in traffic, so it doesn't look like it will arrive on time.
この複雑なパズルは、一日では解決できそうにない。
This complicated puzzle is unlikely to be solvable in a single day.