Base
I pay the bill at the end of the meal.
Pay is the base form with I, you, we and they.
Past Tense of Pay: Paid
Pay is an irregular verb. Its past form and past participle are the same word: paid. Say I paid the bill and I have paid the bill, never payed.
Base
pay
Past
paid
Past participle
paid
Third person: pays · -ing form: paying
ABB: form patternExamples
Base
We pay by card in this shop.
Pay by card, pay by cash and pay online are common phrases.
Past
She paid ten dollars for the ticket.
Paid is the past form; it does not need have.
Past
He paid for lunch yesterday.
Yesterday points to a finished action, so use paid.
Past participle
I have paid my bill already.
After have, the participle is also paid.
Past participle
They have paid for the tickets online.
Have paid for means the money is already gone.
Usage notes
Pay for something
Use pay for before the thing you buy: pay for the tickets, pay for the coffee. Pay goes directly with an amount, a bill or a person: pay ten dollars, pay the bill, pay the driver.
Spelling and set phrases
The past is paid with an i, never payed. In pay attention, the verb pay means give: Please pay attention means please listen and watch carefully.
Common mistakes
I payed the bill yesterday.
I paid the bill yesterday.
Pay is irregular; the past form is paid, with an i, never payed.
He paid the coffee with his card.
He paid for the coffee with his card.
Use pay for before the thing you buy. Pay without for goes with an amount, a bill or a person.
Practise this verb
0/8
Choose the right form
Choose the form that completes each English sentence.
1.Yesterday I ___ for my lunch with my own money.
2.She has ___ the phone bill.
3.We usually ___ by card here.
4.Please ___ attention to the teacher.
Write the missing form
Type the correct form of pay in each sentence.
Correct the mistake
Rewrite the English sentence with the correct verb form.
8.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
Answer key
1. Yesterday I ___ for my lunch with my own money.
Answer: paid
Yesterday is a finished past time, so use paid.
2. She has ___ the phone bill.
Answer: paid
Has takes the past participle paid.
3. We usually ___ by card here.
Answer: pay
Usually shows a present habit: we pay.
4. Please ___ attention to the teacher.
Answer: pay
After please, use the base form pay.
5. They have ___ for the hotel.
Answer: paid
Have plus the past participle is have paid.
6. My father ___ for dinner last night.
Answer: paid
Last night is finished, so use the past simple paid.
7. I ___ my phone bill on the first of every month.
Answer: pay
Every month shows a routine, so use pay.
8. She payed for the bus ticket.
Answer: She paid for the bus ticket.
The past of pay is paid, not payed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of pay?
The past tense of pay is paid: I paid the bill yesterday.
Is it paid or payed?
Write paid. Payed is only used in a few sea terms, such as payed out a rope. For money, always use paid.
What is the difference between pay and pay for?
Use pay with an amount, a bill or a person: pay ten dollars, pay the bill, pay the driver. Use pay for with the thing you buy: pay for the tickets.