JLPT N3 Hearsay, conjecture, and appearance
んだって, ということだ, and によると pass on information you heard, while に違いない and もしかしたら mark strong and weak guesses. とみえる and ように見える infer from what you can see, and まるで compares to something it is not. Learners overuse に違いない in speech, where it sounds dramatic compared with だろう.
15 N3 grammar points in this group
んだって (ndatte): I hear that; apparently
Use んだって when you want to report hearsay or repeat what someone told you.
彼、来月結婚するんだって。 — I heard he is getting married next month.
ということだ (to iu koto da): I heard; it means that
Use ということだ when you want to report information or state what something means.
ニュースによると、試合は中止になったということだ。 — According to the news, the game has been canceled.
によると / よれば (ni yoru to): according to
Use によると / よれば when you want to cite a source of information.
天気予報によると、明日は雨です。 — According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
もしかしたら (moshika shitara): perhaps; maybe
Use もしかしたら when you want to introduce a possibility you are not sure about.
もしかしたら彼は来ないかもしれない。 — Maybe he will not come.
に違いない (ni chigai nai): must be; no doubt
Use に違いない when you want to state a strong conclusion based on evidence.
彼はもう家に着いたに違いない。 — He must have arrived home already.
確かに (tashika ni): certainly; indeed
Use 確かに（たしかに） when you want to acknowledge that something is true, often before adding a contrast.
確かに、この問題は難しい。 — Certainly, this problem is difficult.
まさか (masaka): no way; surely not
Use まさか when you want to express disbelief or deny an unlikely possibility.
まさか彼が犯人ではないだろう。 — Surely he is not the culprit.
まるで (maru de): just like; as if
Use まるで when you want to compare something strongly to an unreal or vivid image.
今日はまるで夏のように暑い。 — Today is hot as if it were summer.
とみえる / とみえて (to mieru): it seems that
Use とみえる / とみえて when you want to infer a situation from visible evidence.
彼は疲れているとみえて、すぐ寝てしまった。 — He seemed tired and fell asleep right away.
ように見える (you ni mieru): looks like; appears
Use ように見える（ようにみえる） when you want to describe how something appears from the outside.
彼は疲れているように見える。 — He looks tired.
ような気がする (you na ki ga suru): I feel like; it seems to me
Use ような気がする（ようなきがする） when you want to express a vague feeling or impression rather than certainty.
明日は雨が降るような気がする。 — I feel like it will rain tomorrow.
そうもない / そうにない (sou mo nai): unlikely to; shows no sign of
Use そうもない / そうにない when you want to say something does not look likely to happen.
この仕事は今日中に終わりそうにない。 — This work does not look likely to finish today.
のでしょうか (no deshou ka): I wonder; could it be
Use のでしょうか when you want to ask a question politely or softly.
この場合、どうすればいいのでしょうか。 — In this case, what should I do?
じゃない (janai): isn't it; confirmation; maybe; surprise
Use じゃない when you want to seek confirmation, express surprise, soften statements, or show mild disbelief.
いいじゃない。 — Isn't that fine.
っけ (kke): was it?; remind me
Use っけ when you want to casually confirm something you are trying to remember.
会議は何時からだっけ。 — What time was the meeting again?
More JLPT N3 grammar groups
- Conditionals, wishes, and regrets (10)
- Contrast and concession: even if, although (13)
- Cause, reason, and result (9)
- Purpose, intention, and effort (14)
- Obligation, advice, and no choice (15)
- Partial and strong negation (9)
- Time, timing, and gradual change (20)
- Relational phrases: about, for, through (19)
- Compound verbs and suffixes (20)
- Degree, comparison, and emphasis (20)
- Adding, listing, and connecting ideas (18)