1

I encounter sentences that mix two grammar concepts: "てくださる” and "ということです" :

林さんからお電話がありまして、４時ごろもう一度電話をくださるということです。

Because I don't identify the subject of the "くださる”: which of these interpretations is correct?

私が電話をくださるということです。
林さんが電話をくださるということです。

I'm not sure if the meaning is that Hayashi will call back at 4:00 or if he asks to be called back at 4:00?

Eiríkr Útlendi
  • 37,445
  • 1
  • 72
  • 121
Poulp
  • 619
  • 4
  • 14
  • 1
    I think you've already started to notice since it was just edited, but there is no grammar point てくださる in these sentences. くださる is here used as a verb, and is simply the respectful version of くれる. – YonKuma Mar 08 '24 at 13:41

2 Answers2

6

As the following answer says, the core of くださる is to give.

ということです is a construction expressing hearsay. Thus もう一度電話をくださるということです means I was told that (subj.) would give a call again. Since it is saying again, you can deduce (more or less without knowing much grammar) that the subject is 林さん.

Also by the nature of くださる, 私 will never be the subject to くださる.

sundowner
  • 36,445
  • 2
  • 19
  • 57
1

Original text:

林さんからお電話がありまして、４時ごろもう一度電話をくださるということです。

My translation (supposing that 4時 == 4PM):

Rin / Lin / Hayashi informed me on the phone that there will be another incoming call around 4PM.

According to this context:

  • いうことです -> informed me ******
  • お電話がありまして -> ***** in the phone

I hope this can help you comprehend the original text easiser.

Shiki Suen
  • 11
  • 2
  • "another incoming call" > To me it sounds like there is a 90% percent chance that it's not some incoming call, but that 林さん will call again around 4pm. – Earthliŋ Mar 10 '24 at 16:17
  • @Earthliŋ However, Nihongo prefers to omit the grammatical subject. I don't dare to assert that the subject is 林さん in this case. The incoming call target is the one who speaks this sentence, still. – Shiki Suen Mar 10 '24 at 17:52