Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[teasel89]

Dear teachers,

I want to ask that in the following two sentences which one is better to express the proper meaning?

"My parents pay much attention to my education."
"My parents paid much attention to my education."

Would you please tell me that?

Thank you very much!

[pugachevV]

They are both correct English. It depends what you intend to say.
The only difference is the tense of the verb, "to pay".

"My parents pay much attention to my education."

means that your parents are paying attention to your education right now. This is the present tense.

"My parents paid much attention to my education."
This means that in the past your parents paid attention to your education. This is the past tense.

[teasel89]

Thank you for your response!!

If I want to express that my parents paid and will pay forever, can I say that "My parents have been paying much attention to my education."?

[pugachevV]

Have been paying means that they have in the past and still are, paying attention.

If you want to suggest what they will do in the future, you will need to add something like, "and will continue to do so (until I graduate)".

e.g.My parents have been paying attention to my education and will continue to do so.

[teasel89]

Thank you very much!