〜と言います~to iimasu
To iimasu (〜と言います) means “reporting what someone said”.
The teacher said there will be a festival tomorrow.
Put the reported words before 「と」 and use 「言いました」 to say someone said them.
In the course
How it works
After the teacher speaks, you pass the message on to a classmate. Which part of the picture shows the teacher’s words?
The quoted words go before 「と」. 「と」 connects them to 「言います」.
「先生は」 identifies who spoke: these are the teacher’s words, not the person passing them on.
To report something already said, end with 「言いました」, meaning “said.”
「言いました」 puts only the act of speaking in the past, not the event in the quoted words.
In the example, 「明日お祭りがある」 is what is being reported. 「ある」 is the plain form.
The example reports the content using the plain form. The picture quotes the exact words, so 「あります」 stays as it is.
Example sentences
- 先生senseiはwa明日asuお祭りomatsuriがgaあるaruとto言いました。iimashita
The teacher said there will be a festival tomorrow.
In a conversation
- A先生は何と言いましたか。
A: What did the teacher say?
- B「明日はテストがあります」と
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
The teacher said there will be a festival tomorrow.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
ガイドブックに「ここは有名な観光地です」 書いてあります。
The guidebook says, "This is a famous tourist spot."
More grammar in this theme
- 〜と言いますreporting what someone said