I've just studied そう (as in: seems like; about to) in class and I wanted to
know why you can use some verbs and not others.

For instance, 雨が｛あめが｝降りそう｛ふりそう｝ works out semantically and grammatically, as
does 落ちそう｛おちそう｝. But why doesn't a verb like 治る｛なおる｝ work (治りそう)? My teacher
said that it's grammatical but it doesn't make sense.

Is it something about lexical aspect? Or is it a specific class of verbs, like
'break'/'hit' verbs, for example?

I've done some digging but I'm not sure what to look up next. Any help would
be appreciated.
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2019-08-25T06:38:46.843
70329
2020-10-22T04:06:15.760
2019-08-25T16:51:44.303
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question
grammar verbs auxiliaries
Which categories of verbs (transitive, atelic, etc) can you use with ～そう (seems to; appears)?
風邪が治りそう is grammatically valid, but it refers to a future expectation based on
the current appearance/situation of something. For example, you can use
風邪が治りそう like this:

  * 来週には風邪は治りそうです。  
(Judging from the current situation,) Looks like my cold is going to get cured
by next week.

  * この料理を食べたら風邪が治りそうです。  
This dish appears almost like it can cure a cold if you eat it.

If you wanted to say "I'm (gradually / in the process of) recovering from a
cold", you have to say 風邪は治りかけです or 風邪は治っているところです. If you wanted to say "I
have almost recovered from a cold", you have to say 風邪はほとんど治りました.
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2019-08-27T11:14:32.823
70368
2019-08-27T11:14:32.823
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answer