In this #Japanese with manga post, we will take a look at a modal grammar structure that is often translated to 'should' in English. Again, just one word in English with many equivalents in Japanese. Modal verbs are especially tricky because they cover a variety of meanings/nuances and often don't have direct counterparts in many languages.
As for sources, some of the grammar rules were taken from textbooks and grammar books for teachers, online dictionaries, and some of them were consulted with my Japanese teacher and English native speakers.
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Grammar mechanics
Verb casual + はずだ / です / がない / がありません
Noun + のはずだ / です / がない
/ がありません
いadjective + はずだ / です / がない
/ がありません
なadj + なはずだ / です / がない
/ がありません
Textbook knowledge
はず is usually defined as, be supposed to, ought to, should, must, be expected to. Great, lots of possibilities. However, the more options you have, the warier you need to be of the context.
You can indeed translate はず to should or be supposed to, but you can also translate should to べき or even ないと.
And these are not as interchangeable as their English equivalents are. At least, that’s my impression. Correct me if I’m wrong.
For example:
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そろそろ帰らないと。
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I
should go home.
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You can also say:
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そろそろ帰るはずだ。
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They should be
on their way home by now.
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Notice that the meaning has changed.
The
first sentence suggests (in an appropriate context) that you have to go
home because if you don’t go, you might get into trouble.
The second one, though, suggests an assumption. You don’t know the truth, and you might get surprised by the final result.
Japanese definition of はず
Let’s take a look at the Japanese definition of that phrase first.
「はずです」は基本的に、「理屈上こうなる」という推論の結果としてのことがらを表わします。
The phrase はずです expresses something that is the result of an inference that “this is the way it should be in theory.” (Source)
“In theory” guys! Theory refers to
an idea that you believe is true, although you have no proof, or it is a
formal idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain something.
For example:
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木村さんは英語教師ですから、英語が話せるはずです。
|
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Mr. Kimura is an English teacher, so he should be able to speak English. |
In theory, all English teachers have the ability to speak English, but the reality might be different. Mr. Kimura’s ability to speak English is explained by the fact that he is an English teacher (if that makes any sense to you).
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この問題はＮ２の問題ですから、難しいはずです。
|
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This problem is an N2 problem, so it should be difficult.
However, not all N2 problems are difficult. |
Note #1: はず often implies the element of surprise; べき or other phrases, not really.
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彼女は今、海外出張なので、今日は来ないはずです。 |
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She is on a business trip abroad now, so she shouldn’t be coming today.
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Negative assumptions
To express a negative assumption about the future in English, you can also use will, for example, I doubt she will be coming; It’s unlikely she will come; She won’t come today.
Note #2: Will for future assumptions can also be used in affirmative sentences: She isn’t on a business trip, so she will come. Will sounds like you’re more sure of what you’re saying. Should, you’re less sure.
Note #3: In English, when we talk about assumptions that displease the speaker, we are more likely to use will instead of should. Let’s not go shopping now. The shops will be overcrowded. (Source: a Practical English Grammar Thomson, Martinet)
As for future assumptions in Japanese, the tendency is to use だろう (a post to come).
In English, things might get a little bit tricky with assumptions about present situations. For instance: Tom shouldn’t know the address, suggests that we don’t think he knows it unless the context explicitly suggests ‘no one should tell him’ (forbidden action). Of course, there are other phrases to use, for example: I doubt he knows the address.
In Japanese, you will say either of these two sentences, depending on the context:
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トムは住所を知ってはいけない 。
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No one should tell him; he is not allowed to know it. |
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トムはアドレスを知らないはずだ 。
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An assumption; I think he doesn't know the address. |
or you can negate はず
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トムはアドレスを知っているはずがない 。
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I don't think he knows the address. / He can't possibly know the address. |
アドレス is commonly used in reference to email addresses.
What is the difference between はず and はずがない?
In essence, the second sentence (トムはアドレスを知っているはずがない) focuses on the unlikelihood of Tom knowing the
address, while the first sentence emphasizes the expectation that he
doesn't know it. The choice between these sentences depends on the
specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.
However, just like in English, modal structures in Japanese convey different degrees of certainty and the meaning slightly (or not so slightly) changes depending on the type of sentence (negations, questions, affirmatives). はずがない conveys strong implications such as surprise, shock, or new revelations (as in 'Whaaaat?!?! He can't know it... impossible!')
Past assumptions with ～はず
What do we negate? The verb in front of はず or です？ Well, we can negate both, but as always the meaning will change. Let's analyze these sentences:
- 彼女は来るはずだ - She is supposed to come (should come).
- 彼女は来たはずだ - I suppose she came (should have come).
- 彼女は来るはずだった - She was supposed to come (she should have come).
- 彼女は来たはずだった - She was supposed to have come (she should have come).
Sentence number 1 conveys a present assumption about an event in the future.
Sentence number 2 is still a present assumption about an event from the past. The event being "come." 'Coming' happened (or it didn't) in the past, and now, at the moment of speaking. I'm forming an assumption.
Sentence number 3 is a past assumption; it has no relation to the present. However, the sentence tells as the event didn't happen. She didn't come.
Longman dictionary defines the past form of 'be supposed to' as:
used to say what was or is expected or intended to happen, especially when it did not happen.
Sentence number 4 is a double past. 'Coming' and my assumption happened in the past (no relation to the present). 'To have come' conveys the same nuance as the Past Perfect tense does in English. 'Coming' is the first action that either happened or it didn't happen, and then I formed my assumption.
Sentences 1, 2, and 4 are assumptions, our theories. Only sentence 3 tells that something didn't happen, and we can be sure of our statement.
Example sentences
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| Attack on Titan, chapter 126 |
[...] 先にあるはずだけど。。。
[...] 何かあるはずだ
Context: They’re heading to the place
where Zeke is being kept. Hanji heard an explosion that sounded much
like the one caused by the Thunder Spear. They haven’t reached the
forest yet. So why the heck can she hear it now?
Hanji is theorizing in this case; she’s developing an idea to explain the situation.
[...] 先にあるはずだけど。。。
The first theory is that the place where Zeke is being kept is somewhere further in the distance. This place should be
further ahead. Implicitly - if the Thunder Spear should be heard/used,
it should be used there in the forest, not where Hanji is.
[...] 何かあるはずだ
The second theory is: something must have happened there (in the place where the explosion was heard); or more literally: In the direction of that sound there must/should be something.
Note #4: You
wouldn’t really use べき here because that would suggest an obligation, a
rule, as in, I order the forest to be further ahead.
Note #5: If you tried to translate must to ないと or なければならない or any other must form, you would end up expressing a duty of some sort.
 |
| Attack on Titan, chapter 1 |
[...] １５ｍのはず・・・！
In this example, they’re recalling a theory related to the height of the titans. At most, they should be
15 meters tall. Their knowledge about the titans assumed that the
tallest of them are 15 meters. That’s the theory they formed, but who
would have thought that there is a titan taller than the wall?
Expressing assumptions in English
Just a brief reminder that there are other ways to express assumptions in English as well. Modal verbs aren't the only possibilities. Phrases such as:
- I think,
- I suppose,
- It's (un)likely,
- Chances are,
- I have a feeling, etc.
More on deductions in English from a trusted source ⇒ Link Click
If you catch yourself saying one of these in English, you will now know that you're expressing assumptions and using はず might be an option in your translations. Of course, each of these phrases (probably, I haven't checked) have their own counterparts in Japanese, but your Japanese grammar might be limited to はず only.
There you have it! I hope it helps 😉
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japanese with manga
