I hear vs. I am hearing

[Honey5]

thanks for your suggestions. do you know, something i feel very difficult how to match the words? there are so many different words with the same meanings but different functions. . . how to overcome it? thanks

[Mischelle2]

Hi Alan,
why i could'nt use HEAR instead of I AM HEARING

[Alan]

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Hi,

'I hear' means either the ability to use your ears or 'I understand'. 'I am hearing' suggests either 'there is a sound coming to my ears now' or 'information/news is coming to me'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Mbulawa]

Hi Alan

I am hearing what you are saying but that still doesn't make me want to change my mind one little bit.

This sentence sounds right to me. can you explain please

[Surbhijain5]

SIR
THIS THE SENTENCE" WOULD U MIND IF I SAT"
WHY WE USE HERE SAT ?
I M ASKING AND IT IS NOT DONE THEN WHY???????
please HELP ME I'M CONFUSED..........

[Somthrel]

thank u,
it is really intersting and wonderful test. i really like it
thank u for your support

[Rajsingarpur]

I hear what you are saying but that still doesn't make me want to change my mind one little bit.

I am hearing what you are saying but that still doesn't make me want to change my mind one little bit.

what are the basic differences between these two sentences?

[Beeesneees]

'I am hearing' is more 'active', but in natural conversation the difference is not significant.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Niaz1]

why we coulde not say I am hearing?

[Torsten]

Hi Niaz1, did you read Alan's answer to your question? Also, your question should read 'Why can't we say I am hearing'?

TOEIC short conversations: New colleague

[Niaz1]

yeah i read before but i still can't understand why we do not use am hearing?

[Torsten]

Because both expressions have different meanings as Alan has explained. By the way, the personal pronoun I is always capitalized.

TOEIC short conversations: Two co-workers are discussing their career plans

[Azadkumar]

Dear sajjad,

"I am hearing" means you are still hearing and cannot take the decision like "still doesn't make me want to change my mind one little bit" but "I hear" means you have listen to what is being said and in the position to make your decision.

I am not good in english and tried to explain what i think may be the difference between above two sentences. My request to the members is please let me know if i am wrong.

Regards,
Azad

[Beeesneees]

[Alan]

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Hi,

This is a longstanding question that has been on the forum since 2004 and so is perhaps worth another explanation. When you say: I hear you are going to live in Spain - this means I understand that you are going to live in Spain. In other words someone has told me that.

'I am hearing' is used in a colloquial sense and often refers to gossip or indirect information that people are passing from one person to another. I would not call it incorrect but conversational. You could use it like this: I am hearing stories about you and Mary. Is it true that you two are going to get married? This is quite different from 'I hear' because the person making the remark and asking the question is not absolutely sure whether the 'information' is true or simply gossip.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms