Pay means give money for goods, services or a bill.

The idea

Say pay the driver, pay the bill or pay for the ticket. Use pays with she or he in the present; the past form is paid.

Examples

  • I pay for the ticket by card.
  • She pays the driver in cash.
  • We paid the bill yesterday.
  • Can I pay for the food now?
  • He pays for music lessons.
  • They are paying the total price.

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Watch out

Use for before the item being bought in pay for the ticket, but a bill or person can follow pay directly.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the preposition before the item bought. I pay ___ the ticket by card. (for / at)

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    for

    For introduces the ticket being bought.

  2. Choose the present form with she. She ___ the driver in cash. (pay / pays)

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    pays

    Pays agrees with she in the present.

  3. Choose the past form for yesterday. Yesterday we ___ the bill. (pay / paid)

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    paid

    Paid is the past form of pay.

Use it today

Ask how to pay for a purchase and say how you paid a bill.