Hear or Listen?
Explore how to use “hear” and “listen to” when talking about music, people, and everyday sounds.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Fill in the blank.
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. Fill in the blank.
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 you are paying attention to, such as music or the radio.
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3. Choose the correct answer.
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. Fill in the blank.
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. Fill in the blank.
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. Fill in the blank.
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. Fill in the blank.
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. Fill in the blank.
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. Fill in the blank.
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. Choose the correct answer.
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. Choose the correct answer.
What happened 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. Choose the correct answer.
What could Ana say to ask Ben to speak louder?
Ana is on the phone with Ben. His voice is too quiet.
- 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. Choose the correct answer.
What does this tell us about listening?
“I'm listening to you, but I don't agree with your idea.”
- 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. Choose the correct answer.
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. Choose the correct answer.
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 didn't hear the bell.
Trying to hear a sound does not always mean you hear it.
Show solution
- The person paid attention but didn't hear the bell.
Even when you listen carefully, you may not hear a sound that is too far away.