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First she listens to the staff member, then tells her friend. Use 「～と言っていました」 to report what you heard.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Intermediate 1

〜と言っていました~to itte imashita

report what someone said

Use 「〜と言っていました」 to pass on something someone said earlier, often in the plain form.

How it works

  1. First she listens to the staff member, then tells her friend. Use 「～と言っていました」 to report what you heard.

    First she listens to the staff member, then tells her friend. Use 「～と言っていました」 to report what you heard.

  2. The “staff member” in the sentence is the original speaker. The woman in orange is passing his words on to her friend.

    The “staff member” in the sentence is the original speaker. The woman in orange is passing his words on to her friend.

  3. When reporting a statement, usually use the plain form for its content: 「変わります」 becomes 「変わる＋と」.

    When reporting a statement, usually use the plain form for its content: 「変わります」 becomes 「変わる＋と」.

  4. 「言っていました」 means the person said it earlier. The meeting time may change only later.

    「言っていました」 means the person said it earlier. The meeting time may change only later.

  5. The Yamada example quotes a request directly, so keep 「来てください」 and add 「と」 after it.

    The Yamada example quotes a request directly, so keep 「来てください」 and add 「と」 after it.

Example sentences

  • 公民館こうみんかんkouminkanのnoスタッフすたっふsutaffuは、わ、wa、今日きょうkyouはわwa雨あめameでdeもmoイベントいべんとibentoをo行うおこなうokonauとto言っいっitてteいました。imashita。

    The community center staff said that the event will be held today even if it rains.

  • 山田さんやまださんyamadasanは、わ、wa、初めてはじめてhajimete参加さんかsankaするsuru人ひとhitoもmo安心あんしんanshinしshiてte来きkiてteくださいkudasaiとto言っいっitてteいました。imashita。

    Mr. Yamada said that people participating for the first time should also feel free to come.

    • In a conversation

    • A
      係かかりの人ひとが何なにか言っいっていましたか。

      A: Did the person in charge say anything?

    • B
      はい、集合しゅうごう時間じかんが変わるかわると言っいっていました。

      B: Yes, they said the meeting time will change.

    • A
      そうですか、念ねんのためみんなに知らせましょう。しらせましょう。

      A: I see. Let's inform everyone just in case.

    Check yourself

    1. Level 1 · Recognise

      Which sentence is correct?

    2. Level 1 · Recognise

      Listen and choose the meaning

    3. Level 2 · Build

      Put the words in order

      The staff member said that the event would be held soon.

    4. Level 3 · Use

      What goes in the blank?

      公民館のスタッフは、今日は雨でもイベントを行う____。

      The community center staff said the event would be held even if it rained today.

    More grammar in this theme

    • 〜ようになりますbegin doing something habitually
    • 〜なくなりますstop doing or feeling
    • 〜たばかりですrecently completed action
    • 〜ながら〜while doing another action
    • 〜と言っていましたreport what someone said
    • 命令形forceful direct command
    • 〜なstrongly tell someone not to
    • 〜ながらtwo actions happening together
    Previous〜ながら〜Next命令形

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