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Grammar fix

catch someone's attention

attract notice

to make someone notice you or something, often because it is interesting or unusual

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • The bright colors of the poster caught my attention as soon as I walked into the room.daily life
  • During my presentation, I used a surprising fact at the beginning to catch the audience's attention.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: catch + someone's + attention

WrongI tried to catch attention of the waiter.

RightI tried to catch the waiter's attention.

Use the possessive — 'catch someone's attention'.

Patterncatch + someone's + attention

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I endeavoured to secure the waiter's perceptual notice.

Natural I tried to catch the waiter's attention.

'Secure perceptual notice' is bizarrely formal; 'catch the waiter's attention' is natural.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • catch someone's attention
    the waiter'shereveryone'stry to

Don't confuse it

Not the same as 'pay attention,' which means to focus on something.

Try it in Daily Speak →