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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Hear and listen to
Hello.
Would you tell me whether "listen to" entails "hear"?
I listended to the airplanes, but I never heard it.
Is this sentence coherent?
Would you tell me whether "listen to" entails "hear"?
I listended to the airplanes, but I never heard it.
Is this sentence coherent?
Top answer
-- No. 'Listen to' is a willful act, while 'hear' is a passive experience. I listened to the airplanes, so I never heard the telephone .
- -- No.
- 'Listen to' is a willful act, while 'hear' is a passive experience.
- I listened to the airplanes, so I never heard the telephone .
- -- Yes, and so is this one: I listened to the tape, but I didn't hear the answer to the question.
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3 Answers
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Would you tell me whether "listen to" entails "hear"?-- No. 'Listen to' is a willful act, while 'hear' is a passive experience.
I listened to the airplanes, so I never heard the telephone. Is this sentence coherent?-- Yes, and so is this one: I listened to the tape, but I didn't hear the answer to the question.
I listened to the airplanes, so I never heard the telephone. Is this sentence coherent?-- Yes, and so is this one: I listened to the tape, but I didn't hear the answer to the question.
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Thank you.
Your answer indicates that compared to "look" at and "see", the distinction between "listen to" and "hear" is clearer.
One of native spearkers says that "look at" entails "see", so the following sentence is strange.
? I looked at him, but I didn't see him.
OK: I listened to the tape, but I didn't hear the answer to the ques
Your answer indicates that compared to "look" at and "see", the distinction between "listen to" and "hear" is clearer.
One of native spearkers says that "look at" entails "see", so the following sentence is strange.
? I looked at him, but I didn't see him.
OK: I listened to the tape, but I didn't hear the answer to the ques
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First, I don't like the word 'entail' — all words are just what they are, with their own uses — so I am not going to follow up on that idea.
I looked at him, but I didn't see him.-- Yes, strange out of context, though it can be done, where look at is a simple glance but see is a greater recognition or understanding.
I looked at him, but I didn't see him.-- Yes, strange out of context, though it can be done, where look at is a simple glance but see is a greater recognition or understanding.
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