I need somebody to listen/ hear

Question

Hi teachers!

Can you please tell me which one sounds the most natural to native speakers?

1. I need somebody to listen.

2. I need somebody to listen to me.

3. I need somebody to listen to.

4. I need somebody to hear.

5. I need somebody to hear me.

Another question here. I wonder whether 4 and 5 are the samw in meaning. To me 4 sounds ambiguous. It sounds like I need someone who hear what I say. Also it sounds like I need someone whom I want to hear. ??

Many thanks in advance!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Michelle Chamost natural to native speakers

These are the most natural ones.

2. I need somebody to listen to me.
3. I need somebody to listen to.
5. I need somebody to hear me.

Michelle ChaI wonder whether 4 and 5 are the same in meaning.

No. 4 is not very natural, so let's talk about 2 and 3 instead. The relationship is the same in those examples.

In 2 you want someone who will listen to you.
In 3 you want someone who will speak so that you can listen to them.

If the infinitive already has a complement ("me" in 2), the action of the verb is directed to that complement.
If the infinitive does not have a complement (as in 3), the action of the verb is directed toward the noun phrase that comes before the infinitive ("somebody").

Illustrated differently:

2. I need somebody [(for somebody) to listen to me].
3. I need somebody [(for me) to listen to (somebody)].

Now that you know all of that, you should be able to understand the difference in meaning between this pair of sentences.

A) The community are looking for a troupe of dancers to entertain.
B) The community are looking for a troupe of dancers to entertain them.

Who is going to entertain whom in A? And in B?

CJ

I need somebody to listen/ hear

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