pay既可用作及物动词,也可用作不及物动词。用作不及物动词时,多作“合算,值得”解;用作及物动词时,其搭配范围比较窄,主语只能是人,宾语常是人、钱或账单,而不能是其他物品,如果其客体是物品,则须用for引导。可用于被动结构。
1.用作动词,表示付钱给(某人),其宾语通常是人或钱,或以这两者为双宾语。如:
I paid 100 dollars.我付了100美元。
注意,bill(账),debt(债),fine(罚款),rent(租金),tax(税),wage(工资),school fees(学费)等也属于钱的范畴,所以也用pay。如:
Have you paid the electricity bill yet?你付电费了吗?
2.表示“因……而付钱”,一般后接介词for。如:
How much did you pay for your new car?你花多少钱买的新车?
pay for有时可引申指为某种过失而付出代价。如:
John paid dearly for his mistake.约翰为自己的错误付出了很大的代价。
3.表示付钱叫某人做某事,可用于pay sb(some money)to do sth。如:
I’ll pay you$10 to clean the car.我将给你10美元来清洗我的车。
4.有时用作不及物动词,表示“有利可图”“有好处”“有利益”等。如:
The shop closed because it didn’t pay.该店因不赚钱而关闭。
5.用于以下习语:
(1)pay back偿还(借款);报复
Have you paid(me)back the money you owe me yet?你向我借的钱还(给我)了吗?
(2)pay off还清(债务等);获得成功。如:
He expects to pay all his debts off shortly.他预计不久就能还清全部欠债。
You have to pay your outstanding bill before joining the scheme.
在参加该项目之前必须结清余账。
If they value these data, let them pay for them.
他们要是看重这些数据,就让他们出钱买。
You can pay to be upgraded to a business class seat.
你可以付费升级到商务舱。
I'll go home and pay an overdue visit to my mother.
我将回家看望母亲,其实我早该回去了。