"i can hear you" vs "i could hear you"

Question

"i can hear you" vs "i could hear you"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I can hear you' is used to express the ability to hear in the present moment, while 'I could hear you' is used to indicate the ability to hear in the past or as a polite request. The choice between them depends on the tense and the level of formality you want to convey.

Last Updated: March 08, 2024

Use 'I can hear you' to indicate that you are currently able to hear what someone is saying or any sound around you.

Examples:

I can hear you loud and clear.
Can you speak louder? I can't hear you.
Even with my headphones on, I can still hear you.
I can hear you even from the other room.
I can hear you perfectly well.

Alternatives:

I am able to hear you
I am hearing you
I hear you
I understand what you're saying
I'm listening to you

Use 'I could hear you' to talk about the ability to hear in the past or to make a polite request to hear something more clearly.

Examples:

I could hear you talking last night.
I could hear you, but the music was too loud.
Could you speak up? I couldn't hear you.
I could hear you whispering in the next room.
I could hear you even though you were far away.

Alternatives:

I was able to hear you
I heard you
I was listening to you
I caught what you were saying
I understood what you said

Answer 1

i can hear you

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express the ability to hear in the present moment.

Answer 2

i could hear you

This phrase is correct and is used to indicate the ability to hear in the past or as a polite request.

"i can hear you" vs "i could hear you"

i can hear you

i could hear you

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