Verb (plain form) + はずです (Should / Expected to [Verb])

Core / Reasonable Expectation & Logical Certainty

👀 Layer A: Visual Guide

📝 Quick Summary

This grammar pattern connects to the Plain Form of a verb to express a strong, logical expectation based on reliable facts, schedules, promises, or evidence. It translates to “should be”, “expected to”, or “ought to”.

Structure: [Verb Plain Form] + はずです
Example 1: たなかさんはもう ついたはずです (Tanaka-san should have arrived already).
Example 2: でんしゃは 5じに くるはずです (The train should come at 5 o’clock).

🔗 Connected Grammar:

🔍 Layer B: Deepening

💡 Raya’s Hack

Logical Expectation: HAZU vs. DESHOU / KAMO SHIREMASEN
Japanese has several ways to express probability, but はず (hazu) is special:

– かもしれません (kamo shiremasen): ~50% (Might / Maybe)
– でしょう (deshou): ~70% (Probably / I guess)
– はずです (hazu desu): ~90%+ (Logical expectation based on facts, rules, or schedules)

When you say “Kuru hazu desu”, you are saying “He should come (because he promised / the timetable says so).”