1.overhear的基本意思是“偶然听到”,指无意间从别人的谈话中得知了某件事情或听到了某人在谈话,有时也可以指“故意偷听”。
2.overhear多用于及物动词,后可接名词、代词或由疑问词引导的从句作宾语,还可接由不带to的动词不定式或现在分词充当补足语的复合宾语。可用于被动结构。
3.overhear的过去式、过去分词均为overheard。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
I overheard some cruel remarks about my husband.我无意中听到一些议论我丈夫的粗鲁话。
Let's go and overhear them carefully.让咱们去仔细地偷听他们谈话。
I was too far away to overhear their conversation.我离得太远了,听不见他们说什么。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
I wouldn't like to be overheard.我不喜欢让人偷听。
▲S+～+wh-clause
They spoke so low that I could not overhear what they said.他们说话声音太小,使我无法听到他们说的话。
用作宾补动词
▲S+～+n./pron.+to/-v
I overheard him leave for Beijing.我偶然听说他要到北京去。
I overheard them say they were dissatisfied.我偶然听到他们说,他们很不满意。
▲S+～+n./pron.+v-ing
I overheard them talking.我无意中听到了他们的谈话。
They overheard her singing.他们从旁边听到她唱歌。
I overheard him saying that he was closing down his shop.我听见他说他准备关闭他的商店。