The words hear and listen are often confused. To listen to something is to pay attention to sounds that are going on. Remember that you can hear something without wanting to, but listening requires you to make a deliberate effort.
Can you use listen and hear correctly? Test your understanding with this exercise.
1. Suddenly, I ……………… a loud thud.
a) heard
b) listened
2. Please ………………… to what I am going to say.
a) hear
b) listen
3. I ……………….. that James is quitting his job.
a) listen
b) hear
4. Can you talk a bit louder? I can’t ……………….. you.
a) hear
b) listen to
5. You never ………………….. me.
a) hear
b) listen to
6. Can you ……………….. me?
a) hear
b) listen
7. I didn’t hear the doorbell because I was …………………. to the radio.
a) listening
b) hearing
8. I can ……………….. somebody coming.
a) hear
b) listen to
9. We …………………. the bomb explode.
a) heard
b) listened to
Answers
1. Suddenly, I heard a loud thud.
2. Please listen to what I am going to say.
3. I hear that James is quitting his job.
4. Can you talk a bit louder? I can’t hear you.
5. You never listen to me.
6. Can you hear me?
7. I didn’t hear the doorbell because I was listening to the radio.
8. I can hear somebody coming.
9. We heard the bomb explode.