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How to Say ‘What did the gas company say?’ in Japanese

ガス会社は何と言っていましたか。

gasu kaisha wa nan to itsu te i mashi ta ka

[GAH-soo kaisha wah nan toh EET teh ee mah-shee tah ka]

Phrase Breakdown

ガス会社は

gasu kaisha wa

the gas company (topic)

ガス (gas) + 会社 (company), with the topic particle は, pronounced 'wa'. Say 'gasu-gaisha wa'. か becomes the voiced 'ga' in this compound.

Example

ガス会社は休みです。

The gas company is closed.

Words in this phrase

ガス

gasu

[GAH-soo]

gas

Loanword for fuel gas.

Example

ガスのにおいがします。

I smell gas.

会社

kaisha

[kaisha]

company

A business or employer; often used when talking about workplaces, jobs, or organizations.

Example

この会社は成長が早いです。

This company is growing quickly.

は

[wah]

topic marker; as for

Marks 'today' as the topic. Written は but pronounced 'wa.'

Example

本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for giving me your time today.

何と言っていましたか。

nan to itsu te i mashi ta ka

what did they say?

何と (nan to, 'what') + 言っていました (were saying) + か (question marker). Pause briefly on the small っ in 'itte'.

Example

先生は何と言っていましたか。

What did the teacher say?

Words in this phrase

何

nan

[nan]

what

何 means what; in 何時 it helps ask 'what time'.

Example

何時に始まりますか。

What time does it start?

と

[toh]

(quotation marker)

Particle that marks what was said or written, like quotation marks.

Example

彼は「はい」と言いました。

He said "yes."

言っ

itsu

[EET]

say (te-stem)

Stem of 言う used before て.

Example

名前を言ってください。

Please say your name.

て

[teh]

and; -te form

A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.

Example

仕事を探している人と話しました。

I spoke with a person who is looking for work.

い

[ee]

be; ongoing state part

Part of the continuous form that shows an action is currently happening.

Example

今も条件を比べている最中です。

I am still in the middle of comparing conditions.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past stem

Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.

Example

昨日は多くのことを学びました。

I learned many things yesterday.

た

[tah]

past tense marker

Indicates past tense.

Example

彼は来た。

He came.

か

[ka]

question particle

Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.

Example

行くか？

Shall we go?

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