What is the difference? : Hear vs. Listen

These words both talk about using our ears! They can be applied to same things (music, a conversation, etc.), but they have different meanings.

We'll look at explanations about what each word means and review some example sentences to see how each one works.

Hear

Hear is a verb that means to sense a sound with our ears.

When we hear something, it is by chance. This means we are not actively paying attention or waiting for the sound.

Remember that hear is an irregular verb in the simple past: heard.


Example Sentences:

  • "I think I heard someone laughing in the apartment next door."
       - He wasn't expecting laughter, but the sound reached his ears.
  • "You will hear native speakers use lots of contractions like "can't" or "didn't."

    - You are not specifically expecting or waiting for these words, but people will say them.
  • "I heard a really interesting news story on the radio this morning."
        - You did not expect exactly that story, but they told it.
  • "Did you hear the circus is coming to town?"
        - You did not ask about a circus, but the news reached you.
  • "You called earlier? I heard the telephone ring, but I didn't answer in time."

    - She wasn't waiting for the telephone to ring, but the sound reached her ears.

Listen

Listen is a verb that means to give your attention to a sound. When we listen, we are actively concentrating on the sound.

We can listen to a sound (a song, a speech) that is in progress. This is the most common way we use listen.

Or, we can listen for a sound that we are expecting. This means we are quietly waiting for the sound.


Example Sentences:

  • "Please listen to the tour guide very carefully."
        - The speaker wants you to concentrate on what the guide says.
  • "She likes to listen to the radio while she is at work."
        - She likes to turn on the radio and pay attention to the music while she works.
  • "After this recording ends, listen for the beep. Then leave a message."
        - You should wait quietly, expecting the beep.
  • "We will honk the car horn when we arrive at your building. Just listen for the horn and come down to meet us."
        - You should expect the car horn.
  • "It's easier to run if you're listening to some good music!"

    - You put on the music that you like best for exercise and pay attention to it while you run.

More Tips

Remember that we hear things by chance, when we are not expecting them.

  • Example: The post woman heard the dog bark. She wasn't expecting that!

But, when we listen to something, we are concentrating on it.

  • Example: The doctor is listening carefully to the boy's heart!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Idiom: Behind bars

Image
  "Behind bars" Meaning The idiom 'behind bars'  means in jail or prison. If you say that someone is behind bars, you mean that they are in prison. This idiom is often used as the phrase ‘put someone behind bars.’ Related words:  in jail or prison , incarcerate, imprison, lock up Origin The idiom “ behind bars ” has been in use since the early 18th century. The word “bars” in this idiom refers to the iron bars conventionally used to confine convicted criminals in jails, prisons, or cells. Example Sentences He has spent most of his life behind bars. If you keep hanging around with the wrong crowd, you’ll end up behind bars. Until the court hearing, they will remain behind bars. Fisher was behind bars last night, charged with attempted murder. Nearly 5,000 people a year are put behind bars over motoring penalties. I heard Mike's uncle is behind bars again. I wonder what he did this time! Sir, I'm afraid your son has been put behind bars on a charge of
Read more

Idiom/Phrase: "It's on the tip of my tongue"

Image
  "It's on the tip of my tongue" Meaning If something that you want to say is on the tip of your tongue, you think you are sure you know it such as a word, an answer, or a name, but that you cannot remember it at the moment. Often, when you have a word on the tip of your tongue, you can remember what letter it starts with, or what sound it ends Example Dialogs Scene 1: Two friends are talking ... Friend 1: What was the name of that mystery movie we saw last year? I can't quite remember the name.  Friend 2: Oh yeah.  It was a really good movie.  The name is on the tip of my tongue.  Friend 1: It was a strange name.  Give me a minute and I think I can recall it. Scene 2: Two colleagues are talking ... Colleague 1: Do you remember the name of that software we saw demonstrated at last year's trade show?  Colleague 2:  The one that was supposed to amalgamate all customer service help tickets?  Colleague 1:  Yes, that one. What was the name? It's on the tip of
Read more

Phrase: get / have (one's) (own) way

Image
  "Get their own way" Meaning To get, believe or do what you want, even though someone else wants something different. If someone gets their way or has their way , nobody can stop them from doing what they want to do. You can also say that someone gets their own way or has their own way. Synonym: get what you want, do what you want Example Sentences Samantha always has to get her own way when it comes to dividing responsibilities for group assignments. Toddlers often scream until they get their own way. She always gets her own way in the end. Alright, have it your own way — I’m tired of arguing. He is a spoiled child who always gets his own way. She is very good at using her charm to get her way. My little brother always gets his own way. Don't let the children always get their own way. The companies have been fighting hard to get their way. Trump is threatening another shutdown if he doesn’t get his way. After meeting resistance with her partner about how the bus
Read more