I didn’t / don't hear you. help me please.

Question

Dear TeachersTeacher: let’s review our key words. The key word is “album”.Student: …Teacher: I didn’t hear you. Say it again.Student: albumTeacher: Nice job!In that context, can I use” I don’t hear you.” instead of “I didn’t hear you.”Why or why not?Please help me make a sentence wtith ” I don’t hear you.” inside.Thanks a lot

Vsuresh · Accepted Answer

Student: …
Teacher: I didn’t hear you. Say it again.
Student: album
Teacher: Nice job!
In that context, can I use” I don’t hear you.” instead of “I didn’t hear you.”
Why or why not?
Please help me make a sentence wtith ” I don’t hear you.” inside.

You can say- I haven't heard you; say it again. Present perfect is a better choice for you want it to be repeated and that brings it back to present.
I don't think I don't hear you is all right for hearing is not a vlountary action. Hence I am unable to hear you will be a better choice.

Jacky56Lin · Answer

Thank you very much vsuresh<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

CalifJim · Answer

Jacky56LinTeacher: ~~let’s~~ Let's review our key words. The key word is “album”.
Student: …
Teacher: I didn’t hear you. Say it again.

Correct.

Jacky56LinIn that context, can I use” I don’t hear you.” instead of “I didn’t hear you.”

No. This may surprise you. You can use "I can't hear you" instead of "I didn't hear you". That's much more idiomatic. (You will be understood if you say "I don't hear you", but it's not the first choice of a native speaker in that situation.)

Teacher: Let's review our key words. The key word is “album”.
Student: …
Teacher: I can’t hear you. Say it again. (Correct.)

Jacky56LinPlease help me make a sentence wtith ” I don’t hear you.” inside.

Another surprise, I'm afraid. You can forget about this one. It is rare to hear that. The usual phrase is, "I can't hear you", although "I don't hear you" is also understandable. "I don't hear you" is, on a rare occasion, used to mean, somewhat sarcastically, "I refuse to listen to you. I don't want to listen to what you are saying".

For verbs of perception, and a few others, we usually say "can't" instead of "don't". These are chiefly see, hear, taste, smell, feel, remember, and understand.

I can/can't see it; I can/can't hear it; I can/can't taste it; ...

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

please i need some helps here may i correct when i say i didn't heard instead of saying i didn't hear

I didn’t / don't hear you. help me please.

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