Quotation

to

To quote someone, follow the quotation by 「と いいます」 to iimasu, or whatever tense and form is appropriate. To say what someone has said without making a quotation, use to iimasu but put what was said into the plain form. It's common to omit da when reporting on questions. The verb iimasu may be used to ask how to say something in English or Japanese.

マイクさんは「早く走ることができません」といいました。
Maiku san wa, "Hayaku hashiru koto ga dekimasen," to iimashita.
Mike said, "I can't run fast".

マイクさんは「明日野球をします」といいました。
Maiku san wa, "Ashita yakyuu o shimasu," to iimashita.
Mike said, "I'm playing baseball tomorrow".

マイクさんは明日野球をするといいました。
Maiku san wa, ashita yakyuu o suru to iimashita.
Mike said he's playing baseball tomorrow.

私はアメリカ人かと聞きました。
Watashi wa Amerikajin ka to kikimashita.
He asked if I was American.

オートムン」は日本語で何と言いますか。「秋」と言います。
"Autumn" wa Nihongo de nan to iimasu ka. "Aki" to iimasu.
How do you say "autumn" in Japanese? It's "aki".

って (tte) - Short form of to

In casual language と (to) is often said as って (tte).

Note

There are various uses of the particle 「と」. For other examples, please refer to the section Particles, http://www.studyjapanese.org/content/view/51/58/.