Most people get confused between these two verbs- hearing and listening.

Let us understand the difference in terms of grammar.

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• Hearing is a biological function that just happens through your ears, while listening is a psychological process that happens through giving attention to any sound or activity around you. 

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• Hearing is a sense that helps us to receive the sound waves coming on our way through our ears. On the other hand, listening involves your mind and your way of perceiving the sound or noise that goes to your brain.

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• Hearing refers to one’s ability to perceive sounds, by receiving vibrations through the ears. It can be done subconsciously.  On the contrary, listening is something that is done consciously by giving attention to one’s voice or any sound that involves understanding and analysis of the sound you hear.

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• Hearing is a bodily process while listening is related to mental processes as well.

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• Hearing is an inborn ability while listening is an earned skill.

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• In the process of hearing, we don’t get to control the sound we hear. For example, a sound of a running train.Conversely, in the process of listening, we are very attentive to what the other person is saying and so we listen to gain knowledge and receive information. For example, listen to the lecture in the classroom.

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EXAMPLES

• Hearing: I can hear the noise outside my window.
• Listening: I’m listening to soothing music which gives me peace.
• Hearing: She could hear the wind rushing by her ears.
• Listening: She was busy listening to her biology lecture.
• Hearing: Accidentally I heard her talking to someone on the phone.
• Listening: I listened to all the notes and tones very carefully.