What Does “Hear sth of sb” Mean?
“Hear sth of sb” means to receive information or news about someone, often indirectly or casually.
Introduction
The phrase “hear sth of sb” is commonly used in English to talk about getting some kind of information about a person, usually through gossip, news, or casual conversation. The “sth” stands for “something,” and “sb” stands for “somebody.” When you say you “hear something of somebody,” you mean you have come across some news or details about that person, but not necessarily in a direct or official way. This phrase is useful when discussing updates about friends, colleagues, or public figures without specifying how you learned the information. Understanding the “hear sth of sb meaning” helps learners use the phrase naturally and accurately in everyday speech and writing.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: hear something of somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to receive news or information about someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
The phrase “hear sth of sb” is inseparable and follows a clear pattern:
- hear + something (information) + of + somebody (person)
Because “hear” is a verb here, and “something of somebody” acts as the object, you cannot separate “hear” from “of somebody.” For example, you cannot say “hear of somebody something.”
How to Use “Hear sth of sb”?
Use “hear sth of sb” when you want to mention that you have received some information about a person without specifying the source. It often implies indirect knowledge or news rather than firsthand information.
This phrase is common in both formal and informal contexts but leans toward conversational use. You can use it when talking about friends, acquaintances, celebrities, or colleagues.
Examples
Imagine you want to share some news you heard about a friend you haven’t seen for a while.
- I haven’t seen Mark recently, but I heard something of him from Sarah.
- Have you heard anything of John since he moved to New York?
- She heard something of the new manager, but no one knows much yet.
- We heard something of the actor’s new movie, but details are still secret.
- Did you hear anything of our old teacher? I heard she retired.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse “hear sth of sb” with similar expressions or make errors in word order.
- Incorrect: I heard of him something yesterday.
- Correct: I heard something of him yesterday.
- Incorrect: Did you hear him something?
- Correct: Did you hear something of him?
Remember, “something” must come directly after “hear,” and “of somebody” follows afterward.
Differences / Synonyms
There are similar phrases like “hear about sb” or “hear from sb,” but they have different meanings:
- Hear about sb: To receive general information or news about someone, often more detailed or recent.
- Hear from sb: To receive direct communication, such as a phone call or message.
- Hear sth of sb: Often implies indirect or casual knowledge, sometimes vague or incomplete.
For example, “I heard about her promotion” means you know the news. “I heard from her yesterday” means she contacted you. “I heard something of her” suggests you got some information but not necessarily from her directly.
Common Collocations
When using “hear sth of sb,” certain words often appear as the “something” you hear:
- News – new information or updates
- Rumors – unconfirmed or informal reports
- Stories – accounts or tales about someone
- Reports – formal or official information
- Anything – general information, often used in questions
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of hear sth of sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “hear sth of sb”:
Anna: Have you heard anything of Tom lately?
Ben: Not really. I heard something of him a few weeks ago, but no details.
Anna: I hope he’s doing well. It’s been a long time since we saw him.
Ben: Me too. Maybe we should try to contact him.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence that uses “hear sth of sb” properly:
- a) I heard of him something yesterday.
- b) I heard something of him yesterday.
- c) I heard him something yesterday.
Answer: b) I heard something of him yesterday.
Fill in the blank:
Have you _______ anything _______ Sarah since she moved?
- Answer: heard / of
FAQs
- Q: Is “hear sth of sb” formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal but can be used in polite conversation. - Q: Can I say “hear anything of sb”?
A: Yes, especially in questions, like “Have you heard anything of him?” - Q: What is the difference between “hear of” and “hear from”?
A: “Hear of” means to get information about someone, while “hear from” means to receive direct communication. - Q: Can “hear sth of sb” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, “I heard something of her yesterday.” - Q: Is “sth” and “sb” used in spoken English?
A: No, they are abbreviations used in dictionaries. In speech, say “something” and “somebody.”
