How to distinguish “spend,take,cost and pay” as the meaning of spending time or money in English?

Spend (time): to pass a certain amount of time doing something. Example: “I spent three hours studying for the exam.”

Spend (money): to use money to buy things or pay for services. Example: “I spent $100 on groceries today.”

Take (time): to require a certain amount of time to do something. Example: “It takes two hours to drive to my hometown.”

Cost (money): to be worth a certain amount of money. Example: “This dress costs $50.”

Pay (money): to give money in exchange for goods or services. Example: “I’ll pay for the meal.”

Note: The words can have overlapping meanings and can be used in different contexts. It’s important to pay attention to the context in which they are used to understand their correct usage.

中文解析

很多人对于这四个“花费”不太理解，我们其实可以根据主语（sb/sth/It）去进行判断，具体可看以下思维导图

固定句型

分项训练-spend-spent-spent

I spent 20 yuan (in) ____________(buy) the sandwich. (key: buying)

I spent 20 yuan ____________ the sandwich. (key: on)

I spent 1 hour (in) ____________(do) my homework. (key: doing)

I spent 1 hour ____________ my homework. (key: on)

分项训练-take-took-taken

It ____________ me 1 hour to pack my bag. (key: took)

如何提问“从广州飞到悉尼需要多长时间？”（广州中考）

____________ ____________ does ____________ ____________ to fly from Guangzhou to Sydney?

分项训练-cost-cost-cost&pay-paid-paid

I ____________ 30 yuan ____________ the potato chips. (key: paid, for)

The potato chips____________ me 30 yuan. (key: for)

总结

常用固定搭配

spend wisely 理智消费

spend time with sb 与某人度过时间

take your time 别着急，慢慢来

take it easy 别紧张，放轻松

pay in cash 现金支付

pay by credit card 信用卡支付

pay online 网上支付

cost of living 生活成本

cost control 成本控制

练习

1.He spends all his free time __________ care of his favorite glass-house and grows flowers of every color.

     A. take        B. to take            C. taking  D. taken

2. His company spent six years __________ a hand-free umbrella.

    A. invent  B. to invent  C. inventing  D. invented

3. I __________ 2 yuan for a piece of bread.

    A. cost              B. took                 C. took                 D. spent

4. It  __________  me three hours to finish my homework.

   A. cost              B. took                 C. took                 D. spent

参考答案：CCDB

区分-四大花费-spend, take, cost, pay（CN/EN）最先出现在Clarissa Study。