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Grammar fix

pay a fine

pay a penalty

to give money as a punishment for breaking a law or rule.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • He had to pay a fine for driving without a seatbelt.daily life
  • If you break the rules in my city, you usually have to pay a fine, for example, if you litter or use public transport without a ticket.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: pay a fine (for [doing] something)

WrongHe payed a fine.

RightHe paid a fine.

Past tense of 'pay' is 'paid', not 'payed'.

Patternpay a fine (for [doing] something)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff He was required to remit a monetary penalty for the violation.

Natural He had to pay a fine for it.

'Remit a monetary penalty' is legalese; 'pay a fine' is plain.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • pay a fine
    pay a finea hefty fineget a finea parking fine

Don't confuse it

Not the same as 'pay a fee,' which means paying for a service, not as a punishment.

Try it in Daily Speak →