Basics. Verb + Preposition: Listen to and Look at: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Verb + Preposition: Listen to and Look at
In English, certain verbs require specific dependent prepositions before they can connect to an object. For example, you must "listen to a podcast" (not "listen a podcast") and "look at a painting" (not "look to a painting"). Omitting these prepositions or using the wrong ones—like saying "listen at"—are very common mistakes for English learners.
In this challenge, you will practice pairing these common verbs with their correct prepositions while avoiding tricky distractors. You'll apply these rules to a variety of fun scenarios, from an art critic analyzing a giant bronze potato and an alien reporting to its mothership, to a detective exploring a haunted mansion. You'll work through 10 questions featuring a mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
When Juliet is speaking, you need to actually listen to her, instead of just looking at your own reflection in the stage props!
The verb listen pairs with to when paying attention to a sound or a speaker.
The verb look pairs with at when focusing your vision on a specific target (like a reflection).
Question 2
Complete the conversation between two friends at a noisy cafe. Drag the correct prepositions to fill the gaps.
"Are you even listening to me? You just keep looking at your phone!"
"Are you even listening to me? You just keep looking at your phone!"
When we talk about hearing someone and paying attention, we use the verb phrase listen to (e.g., listen to me, listen to music).
When we focus our eyes on something specific, we use look at (e.g., look at your phone, look at the menu).
Question 3
Help the excited roommate share their new obsession by choosing the correct phrase.
"You really need to _____ this new podcast about time-traveling hamsters!"
The correct answer is listen to.
When we mention the object of our attention (the podcast), the verb "listen" must be followed by the preposition "to". We cannot just say "listen the podcast."
Note: "Hear" does not take a preposition (e.g., "hear the podcast"), but "listen to" implies paying active attention!
Question 4
It refused to listen to my peace treaty and just continued to look at my shiny space helmet.
We always use the preposition to after the verb listen when there is an object (e.g., listen to music, listen to a person).
We use the preposition at after the verb look when we are directing our eyes toward something specific.
Question 5
Help the confused alien complete its report to the mothership by choosing the correct phrase.
"Humans put tiny speakers in their ears and sit for hours just to _____ invisible sound waves."
The correct answer is listen to.
Because the sentence is about ears and sound waves, we need a verb related to hearing ("listen").
In English, when we actively pay attention to sounds, we use the collocation listen to + [the object]. We never say "listen at" or just "listen the sound waves."
Question 6
The correct answers are He didn't listen to the instructions for the assignment. and He was looking at his phone under the desk.
In English, we use the preposition to after the verb "listen" when there is an object (e.g., listen to music, listen to instructions).
We use the preposition at after the verb "look" when directing our eyes toward something (e.g., look at the board, look at a phone).
Question 7
Help the museum tour guide give instructions to the group! Drag the correct words to complete the sentences.
"Welcome, everyone! Please listen to the audio guide carefully, and then look at the giant dinosaur skeleton above you."
"Welcome, everyone! Please listen to the audio guide carefully, and then look at the giant dinosaur skeleton above you."
We use listen to when we pay attention to a sound or someone speaking (like an audio guide).
We use look at when we direct our eyes toward a specific object or person (like a dinosaur skeleton).
Question 8
The correct answers are You should look at the beautiful sunset from the bridge., Make sure you listen to the street musicians in the plaza., and You must look at the colorful birds in the park.
The collocations are always listen + to + [object] and look + at + [object].
- Look at the sunset / Look at the birds
- Listen to the musicians
Question 9
Complete the art critic's observation by selecting the right words.
The visitors stood in silence for twenty minutes, trying to _____ the giant bronze potato.
The correct answer is look at.
When you direct your eyes toward a specific object (like a giant bronze potato), you use the verb "look" followed by the preposition "at".
Without "at", the sentence is grammatically incomplete. "See" does not take a preposition in this context.
Question 10
The correct answers are I looked at the creepy old portrait on the wall. and I listened to the strange whispering sounds.
Remember this spooky rule: You look at things with your eyes, and you listen to things with your ears. Saying "listened at" or "looked to" (in this context) is incorrect!