Grammar fix
catch someone's attention
attract notice
to make someone notice you or something, often because it is interesting or unusual
collocationB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The bright colors of the poster caught my attention as soon as I walked into the room.
During my presentation, I used a surprising fact at the beginning to catch the audience's attention.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I tried to catch attention of the waiter.
Say: I tried to catch the waiter's attention.
Use the possessive — 'catch someone's attention'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Secure perceptual notice' is bizarrely formal; 'catch the waiter's attention' is natural.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
catch someone's attention
- the waiter's
- her
- everyone's
- try to