listen carefully

Meaning

This expression means to pay close attention to what someone is saying so that you do not miss any important information. Teachers often use this phrase before giving instructions, homework assignments, or test details.

Examples

• Please listen carefully because I am only going to say this once.

  Please listen carefully because I am only going to say this once.

• You need to listen carefully to the audio track to answer the questions.

  You need to listen carefully to the audio track to answer the questions.

• The students listened carefully as the teacher explained the project rules.

  The students listened carefully as the teacher explained the project rules.

• If you listen carefully, you can hear the difference between these two sounds.

  If you listen carefully, you can hear the difference between these two sounds.

• Always listen carefully during the safety demonstration.

  Always listen carefully during the safety demonstration.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please hear carefully to the teacher.

  ✓ Please listen carefully to the teacher.

  'Hear' is the physical ability to perceive sound, while 'listen' is the active choice to pay attention. Also, 'listen' requires the preposition 'to' when followed by an object.

• ✗ You must listen careful to the instructions.

  ✓ You must listen carefully to the instructions.

  An adverb ('carefully') is required to modify the verb 'listen', not an adjective ('careful').

Related Expressions

Practice

• You need to ___ to the directions so you don't get lost.

  💡 Pay close attention with your ears.

  Show answer

  listen carefully

• Please ___ while I read the story.

  💡 Focus on the words being spoken.

  Show answer

  listen carefully