N4-G-066
な-adjective + だ そうです (I heard that [Na-adjective])
Core / Hearsay & Reporting Information
👀 Layer A: Visual Guide
📝 Quick Summary
This grammar pattern connects a な-adjective in its Plain Form (by attaching だ in present affirmative) to そうです to express hearsay (“I heard that…”, “They say it is…”). It allows you to pass along reported information about a state or condition.
Structure: [な-adjective Base] + だ + そうです
Example 1: ニュースによると、この まちは しずかだ そうです (According to the news, I heard this town is quiet).
Example 2: れびゅーによると、この あぷりは べんりだ そうです (According to the review, I heard this app is convenient).
🔍 Layer B: Deepening
💡 Raya’s Hack
The Ultimate Rule: Include “だ” vs. Drop “だ”!
The presence or absence of the plain copula だ (da) completely changes the meaning of your sentence:
– Include “だ” + そうです (Hearsay): 静か だ そうです (I heard it is quiet).
– Drop “だ” + そうです (Conjecture): 静か そうです (It looks quiet right now).
When reporting information you read or heard from others about a な-adjective in present tense, always attach だ!
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
Scene: Joy is reporting to Ken about a useful app he read about online.
Joy: 「この あぷりは べんり そうです。」
(Kono apuri wa benri sou desu.)
❌ Dropped “だ” when reporting hearsay!
Why?
By dropping da to say benri sou desu, Joy said “This app looks convenient” based on its appearance. To report information read on a review website (“I heard this app is convenient”), he MUST attach だ (benri da).
Correct: 「この あぷりは べんりだ そうです。」 (I heard this app is convenient.)
🔥 Layer C: Retrieval Practice Loop
Retrieve and apply! Express hearsay with な-adjectives. (Hiragana and English only)
Level 1: Structure Building (Na-adj + だ そうです)
Q1. I heard it is quiet (しずか[な])
Q2. I heard it is convenient (べんり[な])
Q3. I heard [someone] is energetic / healthy (げんき[な])
Q4. I heard it is simple / easy (かんたん[な])
Q5. I heard [someone] was free / had free time (ひまだった)
Level 2: Full Sentences
Q6. According to the news, I heard this town is quiet. (ニュースによると / しずかだ)
Q7. According to the review, I heard this app is convenient. (れびゅーによると / べんりだ)
Q8. According to Tanaka-san, I heard the test procedure was simple. (たなかさんによると / かんたんだった)
Q9. According to his mother, I heard he is energetic / healthy. (おかあさんによると / げんきだ)
Q10. According to my friend, I heard yesterday’s meeting was not quiet. (ともだちによると / しずかじゃなかった)
