The verb to listen · Conjugation
Past Simple of listen
The answer: listened
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to listen is listened.
Example: I listened to the podcast.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | listened |
| You | listened |
| He / She / It | listened |
| We | listened |
| You (pl.) | listened |
| They | listened |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Saying the t in listen ❌
Listen is said /ˈlɪsn/, with a silent t, not /ˈlɪstən/. In the past: listened /ˈlɪsnd/.
2. I listened the podcast ❌
With an object, the preposition to is necessary: I listened to the podcast.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of listen?+
Listened: listen is regular, so you add -ed. I listened to the podcast.
Is the t silent in listen?+
Yes! Listen is said /ˈlɪsn/, with a silent t. The same happens in castle and whistle, and in often for many speakers.
What is the difference between listen and hear?+
Listen = you pay attention on purpose. Hear = a sound comes to your ears. I listened to the radio. I heard a strange noise.
Do you always need to after listen?+
Yes, before an object: listen to music, listen to me. Never listen music. Without an object, there is no to: Listen!
What does listen up mean?+
Listen up! = listen carefully! It is an informal order to get people's attention.
Related pages: listen Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/listen/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to listen are coming soon.