Past Tense of “pay”
The past simple of “pay” is “paid” and the past participle is “paid”. Below are the pronunciation, three example sentences, the mistake learners make most often, and a short drill to check yourself.
Forms of “pay”
pay – paid – paid
give money for something
- Base form
- pay/peɪ/
- Past simple
- paid/peɪd/
- Past participle
- paid/peɪd/
- -ing form
- paying
- He / she / it
- pays
Pronunciation (US)
Quick practice
5 questions. Type the missing form.
Example sentences
Three everyday sentences that show how the forms are used.
Past simple
I paid for the tickets online.
Past participle
Have you paid the electricity bill?
Passive
We are paid at the end of the month.
The most common mistake
Wrong
I payed the bill yesterday.
Correct
I paid the bill yesterday.
Spell it “paid”, not “payed” (like say – said, lay – laid).
Verbs with the same pattern
Past = participle. Learn these together.