Hear or Listen?
Explore how to use “hear” and “listen to” when talking about music, people, and everyday sounds.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
I can ___ music in the next room.
- hear
- listen
Notice that there is no “to” before “music.”
Show solution
I can hear music in the next room.
Use “hear” directly before a sound: “hear music,” “hear a voice,” or “hear a bell.”
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2. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
I like to ___ to music on the bus.
- hear
- listen
Look at the word just after the gap.
Show solution
I like to listen to music on the bus.
Use “listen to” before the thing getting your attention, such as music or the radio.
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3. Kies het juiste antwoord.
Why does the speaker say “Listen!”?
“Listen! Our favorite song is starting.”
- They want someone to start singing.
- They want someone to pay attention to the song.
Show solution
- They want someone to pay attention to the song.
“Listen!” can stand alone when the sound is clear from the situation.
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4. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
My brother ___ the school bell every morning.
- hear
- hearing
- hears
“My brother” works like “he.”
Show solution
My brother hears the school bell every morning.
In the simple present, add “-s” with “he,” “she,” or “it”: “He hears the bell.”
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5. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
Last night, I ___ an owl outside my window.
- heard
- hear
- hearing
“Last night” puts the sound in the past.
Show solution
Last night, I heard an owl outside my window.
The past form of “hear” is “heard,” not “heared.”
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6. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
Yesterday, we ___ to the band's new song.
- listening
- listened
- listen
This happened yesterday.
Show solution
Yesterday, we listened to the band's new song.
“Listen” has a regular past form: add “-ed” to make “listened.”
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7. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
Please don't turn off the radio. I'm ___ to this song.
- listen
- listened
- listening
The action is happening now, after “I'm.”
Show solution
Please don't turn off the radio. I'm listening to this song.
“I'm listening” describes an action happening now. Keep “to” before the song.
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8. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
I enjoy ___ to soft music after work.
- listening
- listen
- listened
Think about the verb form used after “enjoy.”
Show solution
I enjoy listening to soft music after work.
After “enjoy,” use the “-ing” form: “enjoy listening,” just like “enjoy singing.”
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9. Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
I didn't ___ the alarm yesterday.
- heard
- hear
- hearing
“Didn't” already shows that this is about the past.
Show solution
I didn't hear the alarm yesterday.
After “didn't,” use the base form: “didn't hear,” not “didn't heard.”
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10. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What does the speaker mean?
“I don't listen to music when I drive. I like it quiet.”
- They cannot hear any sounds while driving.
- They choose to drive without music.
Think about a choice and an ability.
Show solution
- They choose to drive without music.
“Don't listen” can describe a choice. “Can't hear” describes a problem hearing a sound.
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11. Kies het juiste antwoord.
Which sentence describes the sound in this story?
“I was reading when a pan fell in the kitchen. The noise surprised me!”
- The person heard a noise they didn't expect.
- The person chose a sound to listen to.
The person was busy reading before the noise.
Show solution
- The person heard a noise they didn't expect.
Hearing can happen suddenly, even when you are doing something else.
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12. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What could Ana say to ask Ben to speak louder?
Ana is on the phone with Ben. His voice is too quiet for her.
- I'm listening to you. Your voice is loud enough.
- I can't hear you. Please speak louder.
Ana needs more sound, not more attention.
Show solution
- I can't hear you. Please speak louder.
“I can't hear you” is a useful phrase when a voice is too quiet or a phone connection is poor.
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13. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What does this tell us about listening?
“I'm listening to your idea, but I don't agree.”
- Listening always means agreeing.
- You can pay attention without agreeing.
Show solution
- You can pay attention without agreeing.
You can listen politely and still have a different opinion.
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14. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What is difficult for the speaker?
“I can hear every word, but I don't know this language.”
- Understanding the words.
- Hearing the voice.
The sound is clear, but the language is new.
Show solution
- Understanding the words.
Hearing a word is not the same as knowing what it means.
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15. Kies het juiste antwoord.
What happened?
“I listened carefully, but I couldn't hear the bell. It was too far away.”
- The person heard the bell but paid no attention.
- The person paid attention but heard no bell sound.
Trying to hear a sound does not always mean you hear it.
Show solution
- The person paid attention but heard no bell sound.
Even when you listen carefully, you may need to move closer to hear a quiet sound.