GI20 · Hearsay: 〜そうです

Before you start

The sentences use words you already know, up to the intermediate level, in kanji with furigana, and assume elementary grammar.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• GI01say something is excessive
• GI02say whether something is easy or hard to do
• GI03say what you do something for
• GI04say what you do to avoid something
• GI05pass on what you've heard
• GI06say what seems to be so
• GI07say something has just happened
• GI08say what point of an action you're at
• GI09say you start or finish something
• GI10list some of the things you do
• GI11give a reason softly
• GI12express surprise or a complaint
• GI13describe a change in ability or habit
• GI14report a decision
• GI15say one thing grows with another
• GI16give permission politely
• GI17regret what you didn't do
• GI18make a friendly suggestion
• GI19say something is impossible

What you learn

〜そうです

• そうI hear that

そうです after the plain form passes on what you've heard or read. Nouns take だ: あめだそうです (they say it'll rain). Don't confuse it with the そう of GE04, attached to the stem (ふりそう: looks like rain).

• 明日あしたは 雨あめだそうです。ashita wa ame da sou desu.They say it'll rain tomorrow.
• 部長ぶちょうは 会社かいしゃを 辞やめるそうです。buchou wa kaisha o yameru sou desu.They say the boss is leaving the company.
• 新あたらしい レストランは 高たかいそうです。atarashii resutoran wa takai sou desu.They say the new restaurant is expensive.
• 来週らいしゅうは 台風たいふうだそうです。raishuu wa taifuu da sou desu.They say there's a typhoon next week.
• 人口じんこうが 減へったそうです。jinkou ga hetta sou desu.They say the population has fallen.
• 温泉おんせんは 無料むりょうだそうです。onsen wa muryou da sou desu.They say the hot spring is free.

Practice

A short text with words and grammar you already know; kanji carry their reading above. Read it and answer.