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One is the verb meaning to perceive sound; the other indicates this location.
Side-by-side comparison
"Hear" is the verb to perceive sound with your ears. It can also mean to receive news from someone. "I hear you" = I understand what you are saying.
I can't hear you. Can you speak louder?
Did you hear the news about the merger?
I've never heard that song before.
"Here" is the adverb meaning "in this place" or "to this place". "Come here" = come to where I am. "Here you go" = take this.
Please sign here at the bottom of the page.
The taxi will be here in five minutes.
Here is the report you requested.
Common mistake
- •"Come over hear" and "I couldn't here you" are common typos in fast messages.
- •"Hear" = perceive sound; "here" = this place.
Trick to remember it
- •"Hear" contains "ear": if it involves listening, use "hear".
- •"Here" and "there" both end in -ere because both indicate a location.
Quick rule
- •"Hear" = to perceive sound with the ear (verb). Past tense: "heard".
- •"Here" = in this place (adverb). Opposite: "there".
- •Homophones: they sound the same, completely different functions.
Did you know?
The parliamentary expression "Hear! Hear!", used by British Parliament members to show agreement with a speech, literally means "Listen! Listen!" Many people misspell it as "Here! Here!" which makes no sense in context. The British Parliament prohibits clapping as a form of approval because it might be confused with signs of disorder: "Hear! Hear!" is the authorized alternative. The expression is centuries old and its correct spelling still confuses journalists and commentators who have heard it without seeing it written.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The music is so loud. I can't _____ what you are saying.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Put your bag down _____. There's plenty of space.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One indicates a place, the other shows possession.
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy