Pay – English Verbs Conjugation

pay pays paying paid

Pay means to give money owed. Irregular: pay-paid-paid.

Meanings

To give money owed
To be profitable
To give attention

Common Collocations

pay attention pay off pay back pay the price pay your respects

Tip for Learners

Irregular: pay-paid-paid. Pay off = succeed OR repay. Pay the price = suffer consequences. Pay attention = focus.

Present Simple

I	pay
you	pay
he/she/it	pays
we	pay
they	pay

Examples - Present Simple

I pay my bills on time every month.
You pay too much for rent.
She pays attention in class.
We pay our employees well.
They pay taxes like everyone else.

Present Continuous

I	am paying
you	are paying
he/she/it	is paying
we	are paying
they	are paying

Examples - Present Continuous

I am paying for dinner tonight.
You are paying the price for your mistakes.
He is paying off his student loans.
We are paying attention to the details.
They are paying tribute to the fallen.

Present Perfect

I	have paid
you	have paid
he/she/it	has paid
we	have paid
they	have paid

Examples - Present Perfect

I have paid all my debts.
You have paid your dues.
She has paid a heavy price.
We have paid for the tickets already.
They have paid millions in damages.

Present Perfect Continuous

I	have been paying
you	have been paying
he/she/it	has been paying
we	have been paying
they	have been paying

Examples - Present Perfect Continuous

I have been paying into this pension for years.
You have been paying too much attention to rumors.
He has been paying alimony for a decade.
We have been paying for their mistakes.
They have been paying bribes to officials.

Past Simple

I	paid
you	paid
he/she/it	paid
we	paid
they	paid

Examples - Past Simple

I paid the bill at the restaurant.
You paid the ultimate price.
She paid him a compliment.
We paid our respects at the funeral.
They paid a fortune for that house.

Past Continuous

I	was paying
you	were paying
he/she/it	was paying
we	were paying
they	were paying

Examples - Past Continuous

I was paying attention when it happened.
You were paying no attention at all.
He was paying for his past mistakes.
We were paying tribute to the victims.
They were paying off the mortgage.

Past Perfect

I	had paid
you	had paid
he/she/it	had paid
we	had paid
they	had paid

Examples - Past Perfect

I had paid the deposit before the meeting.
You had paid your dues long ago.
She had paid him back for the insult.
We had paid too high a price.
They had paid off the authorities.

Past Perfect Continuous

I	had been paying
you	had been paying
he/she/it	had been paying
we	had been paying
they	had been paying

Examples - Past Perfect Continuous

I had been paying for years before I owned it.
You had been paying attention all along.
He had been paying child support for a decade.
We had been paying into the system.
They had been paying bribes for years.

Future Simple

I	will pay
you	will pay
he/she/it	will pay
we	will pay
they	will pay

Examples - Future Simple

I will pay you back tomorrow.
You will pay for this someday.
She will pay the fine.
We will pay whatever it takes.
They will pay the consequences.

Future Continuous

I	will be paying
you	will be paying
he/she/it	will be paying
we	will be paying
they	will be paying

Examples - Future Continuous

I will be paying off this loan for years.
You will be paying more attention next time.
He will be paying child support until they're 18.
We will be paying tribute at the ceremony.
They will be paying taxes on the gains.

Future Perfect

I	will have paid
you	will have paid
he/she/it	will have paid
we	will have paid
they	will have paid

Examples - Future Perfect

I will have paid off my mortgage by 50.
You will have paid your debt to society.
She will have paid back every penny.
We will have paid millions by the end.
They will have paid the ultimate price.

Future Perfect Continuous

I	will have been paying
you	will have been paying
he/she/it	will have been paying
we	will have been paying
they	will have been paying

Examples - Future Perfect Continuous

I will have been paying this loan for 30 years.
You will have been paying into the fund for decades.
He will have been paying alimony for years.
We will have been paying taxes for a lifetime.
They will have been paying the price for generations.