Plain form + そうだ

[Hearsay / Reporting Information]

Connection: Plain form + そうだ

This grammar pattern expresses hearsay—information that the speaker heard from another source rather than experienced directly. The key feature is that it uses the PLAIN FORM of verbs, adjectives, and nouns without any modification.

Formation:

• Verb (plain form) + そうだ: 雨が降るそうだ (I heard it will rain)
• い-adjective (plain) + そうだ: 高いそうだ (I heard it's expensive)
• な-adjective + だ + そうだ: 便利だそうだ (I heard it's convenient)
• Noun + だ + そうだ: 学生だそうだ (I heard he's a student)

Important distinction: Do NOT confuse with そうだ（様態）which uses verb/adjective stems and means "looks like/seems like" based on visual observation. Hearsay そうだ reports what someone said; appearance そうだ describes what something looks like.

Examples:

• 明日は雪が降るそうです。(I heard it will snow tomorrow.)
• 田中さんは来月結婚するそうだ。(I heard Tanaka-san is getting married next month.)
• このレストランはとても美味しいそうです。(I heard this restaurant is very delicious.)