{"id":5123,"date":"2025-04-08T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/?p=5123"},"modified":"2025-04-08T01:00:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T01:00:06","slug":"how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Explain \"Pay,\" \"Spend\" and \"Cost\" [Updated]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost\/#Pay\" >Pay<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost\/#Spend\" >Spend<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost\/#Cost\" >Cost<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost\/#Noun_Forms\" >Noun Forms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost\/#Other_Uses\" >Other Uses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost\/#Wrap-up\" >Wrap-up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Similar to <a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/20\/say-vs-tell-how-to-explain-the-difference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\"say\" and \"tell,\"<\/a> there are small but important differences between \"pay,\" \"spend\" and \"cost\" that can be difficult for students to catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are essential vocabulary words that all English learners should master, so let's look at some ways we can explain each of them and their unique uses to students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pay\"><\/span><strong>Pay<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051705\/pay_spend_cost_1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A woman's hand holding up a phone to a pay terminal\n\nPhoto by: Jonas Leupe\" class=\"wp-image-6788\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051705\/pay_spend_cost_1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051705\/pay_spend_cost_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051705\/pay_spend_cost_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051705\/pay_spend_cost_1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051705\/pay_spend_cost_1-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let's begin with \"pay,\" which means \u201cto give money in return for work, goods, services, etc.\u201d The focus is on an action being performed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Someone pays<\/em><\/strong><em> (for something).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Please <strong>pay<\/strong> the cashier at the front of the store.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have to <strong>pay<\/strong> a late fee if you miss the deadline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can I <strong>pay<\/strong> by credit card?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Neither \u201cspend\u201d nor \u201ccost\u201d can be used in these examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spend\"><\/span><strong>Spend<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051730\/pay_spend_cost_2a-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A woman carrying many shopping bags walking toward a car in a parking lot\n\nPhoto by: freestocks\" class=\"wp-image-6789\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051730\/pay_spend_cost_2a-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051730\/pay_spend_cost_2a-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051730\/pay_spend_cost_2a-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051730\/pay_spend_cost_2a-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051730\/pay_spend_cost_2a-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, \"spend\" means \u201cto use up\u201d or \u201cto give money for goods or services.\u201d This is almost the same as the definition for \u201cpay!\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Point out that we can sometimes use either word without changing a sentence\u2019s meaning, but we'll need to use the correct preposition with whichever we choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I <strong>pay<\/strong> about $12 a month <strong>for<\/strong> my Netflix subscription.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I <strong>spend<\/strong> about $12 a month <strong>on<\/strong> my Netflix subscription.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In other situations, however, we cannot do this. For example, \u201cspend the cashier\u201d or \u201cspend by credit card\" would be incorrect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes \"spend\" unique is its focus on the payment itself. In other words, a sentence with \u201cspend\u201d is about the money being exchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Someone spends (an amount) <\/em><\/strong><em>on something.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She <strong>spent<\/strong> $200 on the jacket.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The company will <strong>spend<\/strong> millions of dollars on research this year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How much did you <strong>spend <\/strong>at the mall today?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cost\"><\/span><strong>Cost<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051755\/pay_spend_cost_3a-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Various kinds of fruit on display at a vendor\n\nPhoto by: Rajiv Perera\" class=\"wp-image-6790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051755\/pay_spend_cost_3a-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051755\/pay_spend_cost_3a-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04051755\/pay_spend_cost_3a-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, \u201ccost\u201d means \u201cto require payment before something can be received or done.\u201d So the focus of a \"cost\" sentence is on the item or service that must be paid for \u2014 not the person performing the action or the amount being paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>An item or service<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em><strong><em>costs<\/em><\/strong><em> something.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How much does this shirt <strong>cost<\/strong>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The premium version <strong>costs<\/strong> more than the regular one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The muffins didn\u2019t <strong>cost<\/strong> a lot, so I bought two.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, the other two verbs wouldn't work in these examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Let's review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She <strong>paid<\/strong> $20 for the book. (focus: a person's action)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She <strong>spent<\/strong> $20 on the book. (focus: an amount of money)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The book <strong>costs<\/strong> $20. (focus: an item requiring payment)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Noun_Forms\"><\/span><strong>Noun Forms<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Students may not be aware that each of these words can also be used as nouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\"Pay\" as a noun refers to money someone receives as a reward for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Company A offers higher <strong>pay<\/strong> than Company B.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The noun form of \"spend\" isn't common in daily conversations, and instead mostly appears in business contexts. It means \"the amount of money spent for a particular purpose.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The company increased its advertising <strong>spend<\/strong> on social media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As a noun, \"cost\" means \"the amount of money you have to pay in order to buy or do something.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can upgrade to a better seat for no extra <strong>cost<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Uses\"><\/span><strong>Other Uses<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04052333\/pay_spend_cost_4a-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"A senior woman rubbing the head of a child, who is bowing in respect to her\n\nPhoto by: CGN089\" class=\"wp-image-6791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04052333\/pay_spend_cost_4a-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04052333\/pay_spend_cost_4a-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04052333\/pay_spend_cost_4a-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04052333\/pay_spend_cost_4a-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/04052333\/pay_spend_cost_4a-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This useful trio of words can also be used in ways not related to money, so let's finish up with some of these alternative uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternative meaning: to give (when used with specific words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Please <strong>pay<\/strong> <strong>attention<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You should <strong>pay respect<\/strong> to your seniors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He <strong>paid<\/strong> the woman <strong>a compliment<\/strong> on her dress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternative meaning: to use (time)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We <strong>spent<\/strong> one month in Germany last year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I <strong>spent<\/strong> the weekend at home playing video games.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cost<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternative meaning: to be lost, to be required (negative nuance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>That mistake will <strong>cost<\/strong> us a lot of extra work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All of those overtime hours are <strong>costing<\/strong> him his health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wrap-up\"><\/span><strong>Wrap-up<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once students know the focus of their sentence, choosing between \"pay,\" \"spend\" and \"cost\" will be much easier for them. Armed with the knowledge presented here, they will be better prepared to talk about their shopping experiences and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more articles on explaining differences, we recommend the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/could-you-vs-would-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\"Could you\" and \"Would you\"<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/explaining-the-difference-look-see-and-watch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\"Look,\" \"See\" and \"Watch\"<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-teach-for-vs-since\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\"For\" and \"Since\"<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Similar to \"say\" and \"tell,\" there are small but important differences between \"pay,\" \"spend\" and \"cost\" that can be difficult for students to catch. These are essential vocabulary words that all English learners should master,...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":432,"featured_media":6792,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"unified_meta_tagline_field":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58,69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-teaching-grammar","category-vocab-expressions"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Explain &quot;Pay,&quot; &quot;Spend&quot; and &quot;Cost&quot; [Updated] | Engoo Tutor&#039;s Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explaining the differences between these words for discussing money isn&#039;t hard if you help students identify the focus of their sentence.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-grammar\/how-to-explain-pay-vs-spend-vs-cost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Explain &quot;Pay,&quot; 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