pay attention

Meaning

This collocation means to watch, listen to, or think about something or someone very carefully. It is commonly used in classrooms, workplaces, and daily conversations to encourage focus or highlight a lack of focus.

Examples

• You need to pay attention to the safety instructions before we start.

  You need to pay attention to the safety instructions before we start.

• I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Could you repeat that?

  I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Could you repeat that?

• If you pay attention to details, you will avoid making silly mistakes.

  If you pay attention to details, you will avoid making silly mistakes.

• The teacher asked the students to pay attention to the whiteboard.

  The teacher asked the students to pay attention to the whiteboard.

• She doesn't pay any attention to the rumors going around the office.

  She doesn't pay any attention to the rumors going around the office.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please make attention to what I am saying.

  ✓ Please pay attention to what I am saying.

  In English, the correct verb to use with 'attention' is 'pay', not 'make' or 'do'.

• ✗ He never pays attention on his teacher.

  ✓ He never pays attention to his teacher.

  The preposition that must follow 'pay attention' is always 'to', never 'on' or 'at'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• You must ___ to the road signs while driving.

  💡 Focus and watch carefully.

  Show answer

  pay attention

• He didn't ___ to the warning, so he got a flat tire.

  💡 Listen to or heed.

  Show answer

  pay attention