Meaning
Reports information heard from others and can name the source: 友達から〜と聞きました. Close to hearsay 〜そうです, but stresses that you heard it yourself.
Formation
- Plain form + と聞きました: 結婚すると聞きました
- Nouns and な-adjectives take だ: 休みだと聞きました
- Name the source with から (友達に聞きました usually means 'I asked my friend'); と聞いています for information you have been told
When to use it
- Core use
- I heard that …
Example
田中さんから来月結婚すると聞きました
I heard from Mr. Tanaka that he is getting married next month.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.