as we listened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as we listened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that occurs simultaneously with the act of listening, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "As we listened to the music, we felt a sense of peace wash over us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The New Yorker, April 17 , 1971P. 31 As we listened to the Pres.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, September 30 , 1974P. 27 As we listened to Pres.

The New Yorker

By Jonathan Schell The New Yorker, September 30 , 1974P. 27 As we listened to Pres.

The New Yorker

As we listened to CEOs and reviewed our transcripts looking for patterns, we identified three important takeaways.

Harvard Business Review

As we listened, Sam Amidon's reedy tenor began to hum, and then another voice joined him, and another.

The New Yorker

The lack of a thermostat left us sweating as we listened to the "rusty radiators" clank and wheeze all night.

The New York Times

It must have been a tense moment in Detroit; we were tense ourself as we listened to our radio.

The New Yorker

By Jonathan Schell The New Yorker, April 17 , 1971P. 31 As we listened to the Pres.

The New Yorker

As we listened, we attempted to translate our sense of strong and weak beats into an exaggerated arm gesture and quiet taps, respectively.

University of California, Berkeley

Often, as we listened to students and colleagues, his leg bounced and his fingers worried a nearby object — his keys, his pen.

The New Yorker

"No matter how hard something actually is, it never sounds that way — it always sounds effortless," Bensdorf said as we listened.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as we listened" to effectively convey simultaneous actions or observations, creating a sense of immediacy for the reader. For example, "As we listened to the speaker, we noticed the audience becoming more engaged."

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses mid-sentence after using "as we listened". Ensure that the subsequent clauses maintain a consistent past tense to avoid grammatical errors. For example, avoid mixing: "As we listened, we hear a sudden noise" which should be: "As we listened, we heard a sudden noise".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as we listened" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase, indicating that an action occurred simultaneously with the act of listening. Ludwig examples showcase its use in narrative and descriptive contexts. It modifies the main clause by providing a temporal setting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as we listened" is a grammatically correct and frequently used temporal phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to provide context by indicating that something happened simultaneously with the act of listening. Predominantly found in News & Media, it maintains a neutral register suitable for a wide range of communication, and variations such as "while we were listening" can offer similar meanings. Therefore, using it effectively enhances narrative flow and provides context to readers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while we were listening

Replaces "as" with "while" maintaining the simultaneous action.

whilst we listened

Uses "whilst", a synonym for "while", maintaining the simultaneous action.

as we were hearing

Substitutes "listened" with "were hearing", focusing on the act of perceiving sound.

when we listened

Focuses on a specific moment in time.

during our listening

Uses a noun phrase to describe the time of listening.

in the act of listening

Highlights the action of listening.

while hearing

A more concise version using a participle phrase.

during the time we listened

Expands on the original phrase for emphasis.

as we gave ear

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "as we listened".

as listening occurred

A passive construction to describe the event.

FAQs

How can I use "as we listened" in a sentence?

Use "as we listened" to describe an action happening simultaneously with the act of listening. For example, "As we listened to the speaker, we took notes".

What are some alternatives to "as we listened"?

You can use alternatives like "while we were listening", "during our listening", or "as we were hearing" depending on the context.

Is "as we listened" formal or informal?

"As we listened" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "as we listened" and "when we listened"?

"As we listened" implies a continuous action happening at the same time, while "when we listened" suggests a specific moment in time.