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JLPT N3 · Guessing & hearsay

によると /によれば (ni yoru to/ni yoreba)

～によると／～によれば — according to ～

In short · Shows the source of information that you are passing on: “according to ～.” It follows a noun like a newspaper, forecast or person, and the sentence ends with a hearsay or inference form such as そうだ, ということだ or らしい.
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Pattern

  • 名詞＋によると／によれば source + によると + hearsay (新聞によると〜そうだ)

How to use it

In “A によると、〜そうだ,” A is the source of the information, such as a newspaper, news, forecast, teacher or friend. The sentence usually ends in そうだ, and 〜らしい, 〜ということだ or 〜という also work.

Compared with によれば

The meaning is nearly the same; によれば is a little more formal and suits writing. Note that you cannot use it for your own opinion. Do not say 私によると; express your own thought with 私は〜と思う.

Examples

  • 新聞（しんぶん）によると、明日（あした）台風（たいふう）が来（く）るそうだ。

    Shinbun ni yoru to, ashita taifū ga kuru sō da.

    According to the newspaper, a typhoon is coming tomorrow.

    Source: the newspaper. The ending is そうだ.

  • 天気予報（てんきよほう）によると、週末（しゅうまつ）は晴（は）れるそうだ。

    Tenki yohō ni yoru to, shūmatsu wa hareru sō da.

    According to the forecast, the weekend will be sunny.

    A typical source: the forecast.

  • 係（かかり）の人（ひと）の話（はなし）によれば、開店（かいてん）は十時（じゅうじ）だそうだ。

    Kakari no hito no hanashi ni yoreba, kaiten wa jūji da sō da.

    According to the staff member, the store opens at ten.

    によれば is the slightly more formal form.

Common mistakes

  • Do not use it for your own opinion or guess: × 私によると、いい映画だと思う.
  • End the sentence with a hearsay or inference form such as そうだ, らしい or ということだ.

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