Ways to Use the Verb PAY

Ways to Use the Verb PAY

Ways to Use the Verb PAY

Hello, dear English learners! Have you paid a compliment to anyone recently? If you are not quite sure what that expression means, don’t worry — you’re in exactly the right place. Today, we are exploring the many ways to use the verb pay.

Although pay usually refers to money, English uses it in lots of expressions that have nothing to do with cash at all. Think of phrases like pay attention or pay a visit — no banknotes involved! Let’s take a closer look at its most common uses.

1. Useful Collocations with PAY

These expressions are extremely common in both spoken and written English.

Pay a compliment

Meaning: to say something nice or positive about someone

• Mark paid Sara a compliment on her wonderful dinner.

Pay a visit

Meaning: to visit someone

• We really ought to pay a visit to William — he’s in hospital.

Pay attention

Meaning: to listen carefully or focus

• Pay attention to what I’m going to say; it’s important.

Pay for

Meaning: to give money in exchange for something

• They were required to pay for the damage.

Pay (an amount)

Meaning: to give money

• We can’t afford to pay that much — it’s far too expensive.

Pay respect/tribute

Meaning: to show honour or admiration

• The neighbours gathered to pay tribute to the miners who lost their lives.
• We baked a pie to pay respect to our new neighbours.

Pay dearly

Meaning: to suffer the consequences / pay a high price

• We paid dearly for our new car.

Well-paid / low-paid

• Clare has a well-paid job, while her brother’s job is low-paid.

Crime doesn’t pay

Meaning: doing something illegal will never truly benefit you

• Everyone should know that crime doesn’t pay.

2. Prepositions Used with PAY

The verb pay commonly goes with for and to.

• They didn’t pay much for the house.
• We pay rent to the landlord every month.

3. Phrasal Verbs with PAY

Pay back

Meaning: to return the money you borrowed

• Andy was determined to pay back the money he owed his parents.
• Always check your budget so you can afford to pay back your loans.

Pay down

Meaning: to reduce a debt over time

• We can’t go on holiday until we pay down the mortgage.
• Governments often struggle to pay down national debts.

Pay in / Pay into

Meaning: to deposit money in a bank account

• I went to the bank to pay in some money.
• Daniel regularly paid into a private pension plan.

Pay off (1 — money)

Meaning: to finish paying a debt

• They finally paid off their student loans.

Pay off (2 — success)

Meaning: to bring a successful result

• Their hard work paid off — they both graduated with honours.
• The risky investment paid off in the end.

Pay out

Meaning: to give a large amount of money

• Ryan had to pay out €600 to get his driving licence back.
• The insurance company paid out £50,000 after the accident.

Pay up

Meaning: to pay the full amount you owe

• The bank gave him three years to pay up the loan.
• I couldn’t pay up this week’s rent, but the landlady was kind and let it go.

Pay up front

Meaning: to pay in advance

• We had to pay up front when we bought the house.
• When you book a holiday on that website, you must pay up front 20% of the price.

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