pay vs pay for (Murphy Unit 135, Verb + preposition 4)
Pattern
Section titled “Pattern”-
pay + [charge] = settle it directly: pay the bill, pay the fees, pay rent, pay tax
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pay for + [goods/services] = exchange money for something: pay for the ticket, pay for dinner
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pay + [person] = give money to: pay the driver
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Sophie doesn’t have enough money to pay her college fees. ✓ (fees = the charge, direct object)
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I paid for the meal. (the meal = the thing bought)
The table
Section titled “The table”| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pay + bill/fee/tax/rent | settle the charge | pay her college fees |
| pay for + item/service | buy it | pay for the ticket |
| pay + person | give money to | pay the driver |
| pay + amount | give the sum | I paid £50. |
Why “pay for her college fees” is wrong here
Section titled “Why “pay for her college fees” is wrong here”“Pay for” is for goods/services (things you exchange money for). Fees/bills are charges to settle — they take the direct object:
- pay her college fees ✓ (settle the charge)
- pay for her college fees ✗ — would mean paying money for the fees (double-charge reading)
- pay to her college fees ✗
Trap: Indonesian membayar untuk → English pay for only for goods/services; fees/bills/tax take the direct object.
Test application
Section titled “Test application”Sophie doesn’t have enough money to ___ .
Answer: pay her college fees — direct object (the charge is settled, not “bought”).
Why not the others?
- pay to her college fees ✗ — pay + to + fees doesn’t exist
- pay for her college fees ✗ — fees aren’t goods bought; they’re charges settled
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use (4th ed.), Unit 135 — Verb + preposition 4. Ebot lesson 2026-08-29: “Sophie doesn’t have enough money to ___” → pay her college fees (direct object).