Hear or listen (to)?

‘Hearing’ is an event; it is something which happens to us as a natural process. 

‘Hearing’ é um evento; é algo que acontece conosco como um processo natural.

‘Listening’ is an action; it is something we do consciously.

‘Listening’ é uma ação; é algo que fazemos conscientemente.
To HearTo listen (to)
Suddenly I heard a noise. Someone was in the garden.Did you hear the thunder last night?[on the phone]The line is very bad. I can’t hear you.I listened very carefully to what she said and wrote it all down.Do you listen to the radio in bed?George! Listen to me! I have something important to tell you.
  • Sometimes we can use either hear or listen to, depending on whether we want to emphasise the event or the action:

  • Did you hear that interview with David Beckham on the radio yesterday? (emphasis on the event)

  • Did you listen to that interview with David Beckham on the radio yesterday? (emphasis on the action)
  • I love hearing/listening to the sound of falling rain.
  • We don’t normally use hear in the continuous form. We often use hear with can:
  • [on an internet phone call]
  • I can hear you really clearly.
  • Not: I’m hearing you really clearly.
  • Warning:
  • We use to after listen before an object:
  • Every morning I listen to my Mozart CD while I’m having breakfast. It prepares me mentally for the day.
  • Not: Every morning I listen my Mozart CD …
  • We use listen without to if we do not mention the object, or if it is a discourse marker:
  • Meena, listen! I don’t want you staying out late!
  • Listen, I was wondering if you could help me. (discourse marker beginning a new topic or phase of a conversation)
  • The music was beautiful. We just sat there and listened.
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