Hear vs. Here: Which is Which?

"Here" is an adverb that denotes a specific location or place. "Hear," on the other hand, is a verb that relates to the sense of sound.

In the English language, homophones—words that sound alike but have different meanings—are a common source of confusion. "Here" and "hear" are two such words. In this blog post, we'll learn exactly how to distinguish between "here" and "hear," ensuring that you never mix up these homophones again.

Here vs. Hear

Here: "Here" is an adverb that denotes a specific location or place. It points to a particular spot or position in space or time, and since it's an adverb, it modifies a verb within the sentence. You can think of "here" as a way to say, "at this place."

Hear: "Hear," on the other hand, is a verb that relates to the sense of sound. It signifies the act of perceiving or receiving auditory information through your ears. It involves the ability to listen and detect sounds.

Tricks For Remembering Here vs. Hear

Still find yourself looking up which word to use when you write? Here are a couple of tricks to help you remember.

Here rhymes with there, since they are similar words meaning opposite things. Think about pointing at something and saying "it's here" or "it's there". So you can remember that the adverb here is spelled like there, only without the t!

Another way to remember is that you hear with your ear. So you can remember that the verb hear is spelled like ear, only adding the h.

Example Sentences

Here (Adverb - Location):

I am standing right here next to the fountain.
Can you please put the book down here on the table?
The event will take place here in the conference room at 2 PM.
I'm so glad you could make it here tonight to celebrate with us.
Is there a specific reason you wanted to meet here at the park?
Can you hand me that book over there on the table? I left it here earlier.
Here is the key to the front door; don't forget to lock up when you leave.
We can find a nice spot to have our picnic right here by the lake.
Here, take my umbrella. It looks like it might rain later.
Here in this small town, everyone knows each other's name.

Hear (Verb - Sound Perception):

I could clearly hear the birds chirping outside my window.
Can you speak louder? I can't hear you over the noise.
She could hardly hear the music playing in the distant background.
Can you hear the birds singing outside your window?
I could hear the faint sound of music coming from the neighboring house.
If you speak loudly, I can hear you better over the phone.
I love to hear stories about people's travel adventures.
I can't hear what you're saying; there's too much noise in the background.
It's always a pleasure to hear your laughter; it brightens up the room.
I can't wait to hear the latest updates on your project.

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