The verb to pay · Conjugation
Past Simple of pay
The answer: paid
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to pay is paid.
Example: I paid 20 euros for the book.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | paid |
| You | paid |
| He / She / It | paid |
| We | paid |
| You (pl.) | paid |
| They | paid |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Payed ❌
Pay is irregular in its spelling. Its Past Simple is paid, never payed.
2. I paid the meal ❌
Say pay for something: I paid for the meal. I paid the meal is wrong.
3. Make attention ❌
The fixed expression is pay attention: Pay attention to your teacher. Make attention and do attention are wrong.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of pay?+
The Past Simple of pay is paid (pronounced /peɪd/), the same for every person. The past participle is also paid.
How do you say how much you paid?+
Say I paid 20 euros. To add the thing, use pay + amount + for + thing: I paid 20 euros for the book.
What is the difference between pay and buy?+
Pay = to give money. Buy = to get something with money. I bought a book and I paid 20 euros for it. You buy the thing; you pay the money.
Is it didn't pay or didn't paid?+
Say didn't pay: I didn't pay the bill. After didn't, use the base form, pay.
Why is it paid and not payed?+
The past of pay has a special spelling, like say → said and lay → laid. So it is paid, never payed.
Related pages: pay Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/pay/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to pay are coming soon.