Grammar fix
pay a visit
visit
to go and see someone or a place, usually for a short time, often to be polite or friendly.
collocationB1occasional
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
I decided to pay a visit to my grandmother after work.
If I have some free time, I usually pay a visit to my friends to catch up and relax together.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I paid a visit to see my aunt.
Say: I paid my aunt a visit.
'Pay someone a visit' or 'pay a visit to someone' — don't add 'to see'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Make a formal call upon' is Victorian; 'pay a visit' is the natural set phrase.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
pay a visit
- pay a visit
- pay someone a visit
- pay a visit to
- well worth a visit