Pay: paid
- The base form is pay.
- The past tense and past participle form is paid (irregular form).
- The verb pay takes direct objects, such as money, the bill, or attention.
- It can be used in literal senses (giving money) or idiomatic expressions (e.g., pay attention).
Conjugation
The verb pay takes the irregular form paid for both the past tense and past participle. Other forms follow standard patterns.
| Tense/Aspect | Subject | Verb Form | Example (English) | Example (Spanish) | Example (French) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | I/You/We/They | pay | I pay the bill. | Yo pago la cuenta. | Je paie la facture. |
| Present Simple | He/She/It | pays | He pays the bill. | Él paga la cuenta. | Il paie la facture. |
| Past Simple | All | paid | They paid yesterday. | Ellos pagaron ayer. | Ils ont payé hier. |
| Present Perfect | All | have/has paid | She has paid already. | Ella ya ha pagado. | Elle a déjà payé. |
| Past Perfect | All | had paid | I had paid before leaving. | Yo había pagado antes de salir. | J’avais payé avant de partir. |
| Future Simple | All | will pay | We will pay later. | Pagaremos más tarde. | Nous paierons plus tard. |
Usage
The verb pay can be used in several ways:
- pay + money: He pays $10. (Él paga $10.)
- pay + object: She pays the rent. (Ella paga el alquiler.)
- pay + for + noun: They pay for dinner. (Ellos pagan la cena.)
- pay + attention: Pay attention! (¡Presta atención!)
- pay + someone + something: I paid him $20. (Le pagué $20.)
Irregular Rule
- The verb pay changes the vowel a to ai in the past tense and past participle.
- Both past tense and past participle use paid (not paying -ed).
- Example: pay → paid (not payed).
Example Sentences
| Tense | English | Spanish | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | I pay my bills on time. | Yo pago mis facturas a tiempo. | Je paie mes factures à temps. |
| Past | She paid the cashier yesterday. | Ella pagó al cajero ayer. | Elle a payé le caissier hier. |
| Perfect | They have paid the full amount. | Ellos han pagado el monto completo. | Ils ont payé le montant total. |
| Future | We will pay you back tomorrow. | Te pagaremos mañana. | Nous te rembourserons demain. |
| Imperative | Pay attention to the rules! | ¡Presta atención a las reglas! | Fais attention aux règles ! |
Additional Notes
- Do not confuse pay with play (which means to engage in a game).
- The past tense paid is pronounced /peɪd/ (rhymes with made).
- Common phrases: pay the bill, pay off debt, pay attention, pay in cash.
Pay is an irregular verb in English. The past tense and past participle are always paid, with the vowel changing from a to ai. It can be used in literal financial contexts or more abstract ones like pay attention.
Flashcards (1 of 11)
- Tense/Aspect: Present Simple
- Subject: I/You/We/They
- Verb Form: pay
- Example (English): I pay the bill.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
