I heard that: -ㄴ/은/는대(요)

This pattern acts as a bridge between two people. You are the messenger. You heard something from Person A. Now, you are telling Person B. Instead of saying the whole long sentence, you just attach -대(요) to the end. It basically replaces the verb ending and the phrase "they said." It works with verbs, adjectives, and nouns. However, the way you attach it changes slightly based on the word type. It is like a grammar chameleon! It blends into whatever word it touches. Just remember, you are not the original source of the info. You are just the one hitting the "share" button.

1. 1Let's break down the construction steps. It is easier than it looks!
2. 2For Action Verbs (Present Tense):
3. 3If the stem ends in a vowel, add -ㄴ대요. Example: 가다 becomes 간대요 (I heard they are going).
4. 4If the stem ends in a consonant, add -는대요. Example: 먹다 becomes 먹는대요 (I heard they are eating).
5. 5For Descriptive Verbs/Adjectives (Present Tense):
6. 6Just add -대요 to the stem. No fancy changes here! Example: 바쁘다 becomes 바쁘대요 (I heard they are busy).
7. 7For Nouns:
8. 8If the noun ends in a vowel, add -래요. Example: 의사 becomes 의사래요 (I heard they are a doctor).
9. 9If the noun ends in a consonant, add -이래요. Example: 학생 becomes 학생이래요 (I heard they are a student).
10. 10For Past Tense (All types):
11. 11Add -었/았/였대요 to the stem. Example: 했대요 (I heard they did it).
12. 12For Future Tense:
13. 13Use -(으)ㄹ 거래요. Example: 올 거래요 (I heard they will come).

Use this when you are not the primary source. Imagine you are at a job interview. You might say, "I heard this company has great benefits." Use -대요 there. Or imagine you are ordering food for a friend. "He says he wants the spicy ramen." That is -대요 in action. It is also great for confirming rumors. "Is it true that the concert is canceled?" You are reporting what you heard elsewhere. It is very common in office settings. "The boss said the meeting is at 2 PM." It keeps the conversation moving without being too wordy.

Do not use this for things you saw yourself. If you saw the rain, just say "It's raining." If you use -대요, it sounds like you are quoting a weather report. Also, avoid this in very formal writing like academic papers. In those cases, use the full form -다고 합니다. It is like wearing a tuxedo versus a nice shirt. Both are good, but use them in the right place! Also, don't use it for your own thoughts. If you want to say "I think it's good," use -ㄴ 것 같아요. Using -대요 for yourself makes you sound like you have amnesia!

The biggest trap is the spelling! Many people confuse -대 and -데. This is a classic mistake even for native speakers. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. -대 is for hearsay (someone told me). -데 is for your own experience or providing background. If you mix them up, people might get confused about who saw what. Another mistake is using the wrong tense. Make sure you know if the event happened already or is happening now. Don't say someone "is going" if they already left!

How is this different from -다고 해요? It is actually the same thing! -대요 is just the casual, spoken version. It is like "I'm" versus "I am." Use -대요 with friends and colleagues. Use -다고 해요 in speeches or formal emails. What about -다면서요? Use that when you want to confirm something you heard. "I heard you're moving, is that right?" Use -대요 when you are just stating the fact. One is a question; the other is a statement.