■ S(plain-form)そうです
Meaning: I heard that S” / “It seems that S (from what I heard or read)
This expression is used to report information you’ve heard or read from another source.
It is commonly used when sharing news such as birth, marriage, moving, etc.
■ 【person】に【thing】を あげます
Meaning: Give something to someone
あげます (あげる) is used when you or someone gives something to another person.
The particle に marks the recipient, and を marks the thing given
■ S(plain-form)と 言[い]っています/と 言[い]っていました
Meaning: “Someone said that…” / “Someone was saying that…”
Used to report what someone said directly.
The quoted content is in plain-form, even if the speaker used polite style originally.
The particle と is used to quote what was said.
言[い]っています is used when the person still says it or says it regularly.
言[い]っていました is used when you are reporting something heard in the past.
This differs from ~そうです, which can include information from indirect sources like TV or the internet.
■ S(plain-form)と 思[おも]います
Meaning: I think that S.” / “In my opinion, S.
Used to express personal opinions or thoughts.
The quoted part is in the plain-form, regardless of whether the sentence is originally polite.
The particle と is used to mark what is being thought.
When giving your own opinion, use 思[おも]います.