"pay attention" vs "paid attention"

Question

"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

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.

Alternatives:

focus on
concentrate on
be attentive to
be mindful of
heed

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.

Alternatives:

focused on
concentrated on
was attentive to
was mindful of
heeded

Answer 1

pay attention

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

Answer 2

paid attention

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

"pay attention" vs "paid attention"

pay attention

paid attention

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