listen to someone

Meaning

To pay attention to what another person is saying. It can mean physically hearing their words, showing empathy by hearing their problems, or following their advice and instructions.

Examples

• You need to listen to your doctor if you want to get better quickly.

  You need to listen to your doctor if you want to get better quickly.

• A good manager should always listen to their team members.

  A good manager should always listen to their team members.

• I am sorry, I didn't listen to you because I was distracted by my phone.

  I am sorry, I didn't listen to you because I was distracted by my phone.

• Sometimes, people just want you to listen to them, not solve their problems.

  Sometimes, people just want you to listen to them, not solve their problems.

• If you had listened to me, you wouldn't have made that mistake.

  If you had listened to me, you wouldn't have made that mistake.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please listen me when I am talking.

  ✓ Please listen to me when I am talking.

  The verb 'listen' is intransitive and requires the preposition 'to' before the object (the person or thing being heard).

• ✗ He never hears to his parents.

  ✓ He never listens to his parents.

  'Hear' refers to physical perception and does not take 'to'. 'Listen to' means actively paying attention or obeying.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It is important to ___ when they are sharing their feelings.

  💡 Pay close attention to what a person is saying.

  Show answer

  listen to someone

• Why don't you ever ___ when they try to give you advice?

  💡 Take the advice of another person.

  Show answer

  listen to someone