〜そう(だ)

About

The observational そう can be formed by attaching the auxiliary verb そう to the stem form of a verb/い-adjective, or directly to a な-adjective. This そう is used to express what a speaker observes or feels about a given situation.

E.g. おいしい > おいし > おいしそう "seems/looks delicious"

E.g. 行いける > 行いけ > 行いけそう "to seem to be able to go"

Exception: 良い attaches to そう using さ, and changes from いい to よい:

いい > よい > よさ + そう = よさそう

Negative そう statements can be formed by adding なさ to the negative stem of a verb or い-adjective.

E.g. おいしくない > おいしく + なさ > おいしくなさそう "doesn't seem/look delicious"

本ほんじゃない > 本ほんじゃ + なさ > 本ほんじゃなさそう "doesn't seem/look to be a book"

Summary

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  そう is an auxiliary verb

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  When attached to a verb/adjective stem/な-adjective, そう indicates what the speaker observes or feels about a given situation

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  そう can attach to a negative verb/adjective (or noun using じゃない・ではない) using the connector なさ