'Je ne peux pas entendre' versus 'Je n'entends pas' . Do these 2 sentences translate differently as the 1st indicates there is an external reason for not hearing (music too soft), while the 2nd indicates an inherent hearing loss (deafness)? Does this apply to other Modal verbs? If so, examples really help with understanding. Thanks in advance.
I came across the following nuance recently...
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I came across the following nuance recently...

Hi Andrea,
I don't think this disability is inferred in je n'entends pas .
We speak of 'entendants' ( hearing) and 'malentendants' ( hard of hearing).
If you say speaking to children for instance :
You could probably say -
or
This last example using another modal verb.
To express 'surdité' ( deafness) you might say -
J'entends mal d'une oreille = I can't hear with one ear
Je suis malentendant = I am hard of hearing
Je suis sourd = I am deaf
or even
Just be aware that sometimes the verb 'entendre' means to intend -
Hope this helps!
I came across the following nuance recently...
'Je ne peux pas entendre' versus 'Je n'entends pas' . Do these 2 sentences translate differently as the 1st indicates there is an external reason for not hearing (music too soft), while the 2nd indicates an inherent hearing loss (deafness)? Does this apply to other Modal verbs? If so, examples really help with understanding. Thanks in advance.
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