- JLPT N3
はずだ ([naturally] should be)
NikoJLPT N3: はずだ ([naturally] should be)
We already saw はずだ in a previous N4 lesson.
In that lesson, I wrote:
Use (N4) はずだ when you are confident that something is a certain way based on some kind of objective observation.
In other words, it is used when conclusions about things seem natural. It will typically be translated to things like "must" or "must have," "should," "surely," etc.
The usage of はずだ that we're examining in this lesson is very similar.
Not identical, but similar.
Use (N3) はずだ when stating that it is natural for a certain thing to be a certain way.
The main difference here is that はずだ, as we see it in this lesson, is not being used for conjecture. The speaker is not guessing how something is. Instead, the speaker is commenting that it is natural for things to be as they are.
An example:
A:
最近、ちょっと痩せたみたい。
さいきん、 ちょっと やせた みたい。
I think I’ve lost a bit of weight recently.
B:
痩せるはずだよ。毎日２時間も走ってるんだから。
やせる はずだ よ。 まいにち にじかん も はしってる んだ から。
Of course you have. You go running for two hours every day.
👷 Construction 👷
This usage of はずだ is formed the same way as the usage of はずだ that we saw back in N4:
はずだ comes before a word in plain form:
Plain-Form Word ＋ はずだ
However, when the plain-form word before はずだ is a na-adjective, it must be followed by な：
na-adjective ＋ な ＋ はずだ
When the plain-form word before はずだ is a NOUN, it must be followed by の：
NOUN ＋ の ＋ はずだ
Technically both of these could also be followed by である, too.
All that's left for you to do now is to run through some examples...
A:
中田さんはダンスが上手ですね。
なかた さん は ダンス が じょうず です ね。
Nakata-san is good at dancing, isn’t he?
B:
ダンスの先生なんだから、上手なはずですよ。
ダンス の せんせい なんだ から、 じょうずな はずです よ。
He should be, seeing as how he’s a dance teacher.
A:
あの二人は本当に仲良しね。
あの ふたり は ほんとうに なかよし ね。
Those two are really close, aren’t they?
B:
仲良しのはずですよ。生まれる前から一緒なんですから。
なかよし の はずです よ。 うまれる まえ から いっしょ なんです から。
Of course they're close. They’ve been together since before they were born.
Another translation of the first sentence could be "As they should be."
ああ、もう夏休みか。道理で子供が多いはずだ。
ああ、 もう なつやすみ か。 どうりで こども が おおい はずだ。
Ah, it's already summer vacation. No wonder there are so many kids.
All done, yo.
Many props to you for getting through another lesson.
Niko
