listen to the radio

Meaning

This phrase means to pay attention to audio broadcasts (such as music, news, or talk shows) transmitted over airwaves or the internet. People often do this while driving, cooking, or relaxing.

Examples

• I always listen to the radio while I am driving to work.

  I always listen to the radio while I am driving to work.

• My grandmother likes to listen to the radio in the kitchen.

  My grandmother likes to listen to the radio in the kitchen.

• Do you listen to the radio, or do you prefer streaming music?

  Do you listen to the radio, or do you prefer streaming music?

• We can listen to the radio to hear the weather forecast.

  We can listen to the radio to hear the weather forecast.

• He turned on the car to listen to the radio.

  He turned on the car to listen to the radio.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I like to listen the radio.

  ✓ I like to listen to the radio.

  The verb 'listen' must always be followed by the preposition 'to' when there is an object.

• ✗ I hear the radio in my car.

  ✓ I listen to the radio in my car.

  'Hear' is passive (sound simply entering your ears). 'Listen to' is active and intentional. When you actively choose to play and pay attention to a broadcast, you should use 'listen to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To improve my English pronunciation, I often ___ in my car.

  💡 Pay attention to audio broadcasts.

  Show answer

  listen to the radio

• Do you usually ___ while you wash the dishes?

  💡 Play and hear music or news on an audio device.

  Show answer

  listen to the radio