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pay attention vs paid attention

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Pay attention' is used to instruct someone to focus on something, while 'paid attention' is used to indicate that someone has already focused on something in the past.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 1069 views

pay attention

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to instruct someone to focus on something.

Use 'pay attention' when you want to tell someone to concentrate on a specific thing or task.

Examples:

  • Pay attention to the road while driving.
  • Please pay attention in class.
  • Mike, you really should pay attention in the briefings.
  • We're just motivating people to pay attention and change their behavior.
  • Might help if you pay attention.
  • Now, you've got be quiet and pay attention.
  • Well, you tell Gavin to pay attention.
  • Get the right people involved, force them to pay attention.
  • The next five, you'll have to pay attention.
  • Folks were finally starting to pay attention.
  • Coming from a more entertaining source, Your students might actually pay attention and learn something.
  • My dad doesn't have enough money to pay attention.
  • You need to stay alert, pay attention.
  • This is the story of how Harriet came to pay attention.
  • Folks were finally starting to pay attention.
  • Stop and listen, this is important, you should pay attention.
  • And that forced me to pay attention again.
  • You notice things if you pay attention.
  • Rat A didn't pay attention.
  • Therefore, pay attention before you speak.
  • The rest of you pay attention.
  • When the gods see this willingness to suffer... to sacrifice, they pay attention.

Alternatives:

  • focus on
  • concentrate on
  • be attentive to
  • be mindful of
  • heed

paid attention

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that someone has already focused on something in the past.

Use 'paid attention' to describe that someone has given their focus or concentration to something in the past.

Examples:

  • She paid attention during the entire lecture.
  • I paid attention to the details of the contract.
  • But when I was in here... I paid attention.
  • Three points to be paid attention, time, people and place.
  • I paid attention when Pope taught me how to ride.
  • In its assessment, the Commission has paid attention to presence of market failure.
  • Sure as hell hope you paid attention in class, Speedboat.
  • Well, I'm glad someone paid attention during the first-aid class Harken made us take.
  • In the furore surrounding this, few paid attention to the substance.
  • In case you haven't paid attention, she's a liar.
  • Like you've ever paid attention to what Mum thinks
  • if he had paid attention while awake,
  • Now, if I hadn't paid attention to embodied energy, it would have taken us over 50 years to break even compared to the upgraded house.
  • And I've paid attention the entire time... and I've tried to behave in a way that was respectable.
  • In the selection of the product lines the Commission paid attention to the sensitivities of the EU industry.
  • Lucky somebody paid attention during history class.
  • Maybe if you paid attention instead of reading.
  • Nobody paid attention to him the first time.
  • Nobody paid attention to his advice.
  • All they paid attention to is themselves.
  • And Dad finally paid attention to my intellect.
  • He paid attention to me, Miranda.

Alternatives:

  • focused on
  • concentrated on
  • was attentive to
  • was mindful of
  • heeded

Related Comparisons

let users pay attention vs make users pay attention pay more attention vs focus more on no one vs nobody attention vs recipient be more careful vs pay more attention especially advise vs pay particular attention

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