GRAMMAR DETAIL

〜とのことだ

it is said that ... · I am told that ...

Formally relays information received from another person or organization.

Examples

先生は来週まで休むとのことだ。

I am told that the teacher will be off until next week.

駅前の店は今月で閉店するとのことです。

I am told that the store in front of the station will close at the end of this month.

担当者は午後に戻るとのことです。

I am told that the person in charge will return this afternoon.

Structure: Attach とのことだ to received information to relay news from another person or organization in a formal manner.
Basic usage: 担当者は午後に戻るとのことです。 relays the information that the person in charge will return in the afternoon.

Reported information versus inference
- 明日は休みとのことです relays received news of a closure tomorrow, whereas 明日は休みのようです can express an inference from clues. The polite endings match, but the bases for the information differ.
Tense inside the report
- 戻るとのことです reports that someone will return, while 戻ったとのことです reports that the person has already returned. The verb before と supplies the tense of the content.