Expressing Certainty Lesson 1
Learn how to express logical expectations and strong assumptions using the grammar point はず (hazu).
The Expectation
Imagine you are waiting for a friend at a cafe. You know they left their house an hour ago, and the trip usually takes thirty minutes. When someone asks you if they will arrive soon, you don't just guess—you have a logical reason to believe they should be here by now.
Using はず (hazu)
The grammar point はず expresses a high degree of certainty based on a solid foundation of information.
Tip
Examples of はず
See how はず is used in daily life to express logical expectations.
彼はもうすぐ来るはずです。
He should be coming soon.
この店は今日開いているはずだ。
This shop should be open today.
会議は3時に終わる【はず】です。
Hint: The grammar point for 'should/expectation'.
The meeting should end at 3 o'clock.
Nuance and Usage
While はず implies strong logical certainty, it is important to distinguish it from other forms of prediction.
はず vs かもしれない
はず
Logical expectation (high certainty)
雨が降るはずだ (It should rain)
かもしれない
Possibility (low certainty)
雨が降るかもしれない (It might rain)
Which sentence expresses a logical expectation based on evidence?
- 彼は来るかもしれない。
- ✓ 彼は来るはずだ。
はず expresses a logical expectation based on evidence, whereas かもしれない expresses a mere possibility.
Deep Dive: Past Expectations
You can also use はず in the past tense to talk about what you expected to happen.
Lesson Summary
Use はず to express logical expectations based on facts. It connects to the plain form of verbs and adjectives, and requires 'no' for nouns and na-adjectives.