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N3

Expectations with はずだ

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

What はずだ Means

はずだ means 'should,' 'is expected to,' or 'ought to be the case' based on some reason. It is not a moral command. It is a logical conclusion from what the speaker knows.

  1. Target signal

    田中さんはもう駅に着いているはずです。

    Tanaka is expected to have arrived at the station already.

    The speaker has a reason, such as the schedule or departure time.

    Vocabulary notes
    田中さんたなかさん
    Tanaka
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    いる
    to exist; to be

  2. Compare in context

    このかばんは五千円のはずだ。

    This bag is supposed to cost 5,000 yen.

    The expectation comes from prior knowledge, not a rule.

    Vocabulary notes
    かばん
    bag
    はずだ
    should; be expected to
    この
    this

Section 2 of 3

What It Is Not

はずだ is different from べきだ. べきだ is about what someone ought to do. はずだ is about what the speaker thinks is true. It is also stronger and more evidence-based than かもしれない.

  1. Target signal

    日曜日だから、図書館は閉まっているはずだ。

    Since it's Sunday, the library should be closed.

    This is a factual expectation based on a schedule.

    Vocabulary notes
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    だから
    so; therefore
    はずだ
    should; be expected to

  2. Preview

    彼は約束を守るべきだ。

    He should keep his promise.

    This is a judgment about what is right, not a factual expectation.

    Vocabulary notes
    べきだ〜べきだ
    should; ought to
    べきだ
    should; ought to
    守るまもる
    protect; keep

Section 3 of 3

Useful Variations in Reading

You will often meet はずだ in explanatory prose, and そのはずだ or そんなはずはない in dialogue and narratives.

  1. Target signal

    毎日練習しているのだから、上手になるはずだ。

    If someone practices every day, improvement should follow.

    The conclusion is based on a clear reason.

    Vocabulary notes
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    になる〜になる
    to become
    だから
    so; therefore

  2. Preview

    そんなはずはない。もう一度確認しよう。

    That can't be right. Let's check again.

    Such expressions show strong rejection of an expectation.

    Vocabulary notes
    もう一度もういちど
    one more time; again
    ない
    not; there is not
    はず
    supposed to; expected to

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Expectations with はずだ changes the meaning before you check the translation.

田中さんはもう駅に着いているはずです。 このかばんは五千円のはずだ。 日曜日だから、図書館は閉まっているはずだ。 彼は約束を守るべきだ。 毎日練習しているのだから、上手になるはずだ。 そんなはずはない。もう一度確認しよう。 もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう

Show English translation

Tanaka is expected to have arrived at the station already. This bag is supposed to cost 5,000 yen. Since it's Sunday, the library should be closed. He should keep his promise. If someone practices every day, improvement should follow. That can't be right. Let's check again.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Expectations with はずだ changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Expectations with はずだ changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Expectations with はずだ in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

What kind of meaning does はずだ express?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Expectations with はずだ).

＿＿＿はもう駅に着いているはずです。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1このかばんは五千円のはずだ。
  2. 2日曜日だから、図書館は閉まっているはずだ。
  3. 3田中さんはもう駅に着いているはずです。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Expectations with はずだ in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/4

What kind of meaning does はずだ express?