I need somebody to listen/ listen to
Hi teachers!
Can you please tell me how the two sentences are different in meaning?
1. I need somebody to listen.
2. I need somebody to listen to.
Many thanks in advance!
Top answer
These are opposite in direction. In (1), the desired outcome is that somebody else listens to you (or to another person or thing implied by the context); in (2), the desired outcome is that you can listen to somebody else. (2) is a less likely thing to say.
- These are opposite in direction.
- In (1), the desired outcome is that somebody else listens to you (or to another person or thing implied by the context); in (2), the desired outcome is that you can listen to somebody else.
- (2) is a less likely thing to say.
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These are opposite in direction. In (1), the desired outcome is that somebody else listens to you (or to another person or thing implied by the context); in (2), the desired outcome is that you can listen to somebody else. (2) is a less likely thing to say.
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