Nihongo Nihongo
Minna no Nihongo Lesson 47 Grammar
1. Plain form そうです
I hear that …
This is an expression for conveying information you have obtained from another source without adding your own point of view. When the source of information is given, it is indicated by～によると (according to), placed at the beginning of the sentence.
天気予報によると、あしたは寒くなるそうです。
According to the weather forecast, it will be cold tomorrow.
クララさんは子どものとき、フランスに住んでいたそうです。
I heard that Klara lived in France when she was a child.
バリ島はとてもきれいだそうです。
I hear that Bali is very beautiful.
雨が降りそうです。 It looks like rain.
雨が降るそうです。 I heard that it will rain.
この料理はおいしそうです。 This food looks delicious.
この料理はおいしいそうです。 I heard that this food is delicious.
[Note 2] The difference between ～そうです(expression of hearsay) and ～といっていました.ミラーさんはあした京都へ行くそうです。(*)
I hear that Mr. Miller is going to Kyoto tomorrow.
ミラーさんはあした京都へ行くと言っていました。(**)
Mr. Miller said that he is going to Kyoto tomorrow.
In example (**) the information source is Mr. Miller himself, while in example (*) it is highly possible that the information source is not necessarily Mr. Miller but somebody else. Another difference is that in example (**) the words which Mr. Miller said can be quoted directly or indirectly. In example (*) on the other hand, only the plain form may be used.
2. Plain formようです
な-adj：～だ → ～な
N ：～だ → ～の
It seems that …
～ようですconveys the speaker’s subjective conjecture, which is based on the information obtained through his/her sensory organs.
A sentence that ends in ようですsometimes accompaniesどうも which suggests the speaker cannot be certain if what he/she is saying is a fact.
人が大勢集まっていますね。
Look, there is a big crowd.
事故のようです。パトカーと救急車が来ていますよ。
It looks like there’s been an accident. A patrol car and an ambulance are there.
せきも出るし、頭も痛い。どうもかぜをひいたようだ。
I have a cough and a headache. It looks like I’ve caught a cold.
ミラーさんは忙しそうです。(i)
Mr. Miller seems to be busy.
ミラーさんは忙しいようです。(ii)
It seems that Mr. Miller is busy.
Examples (i) indicates an intuitive judgement based on what the speaker has seen of Mr. Miller’s condition or behavior, and example (ii) indicates the speaker’s judgement based on what he has read, heard or been told.
3. 声／音／におい／味がします
変な音がしますね。
There’s a strange sound, isn’t there?
A phenomenon that is perceivable by the senses is described by using ～がします. Expressions in this category are こえがします, においがします, and あじがします. All these expressions mean that these things have been perceived or sensed regardless of the speaker’s intention.
Related Post: Minna no Nihongo Lesson 47 Vocabulary
