cannot pay for

/ˈkænət peɪ fɔːr/

lack sufficient funds to afford

She cannot pay for the expensive surgery.

She lacks the money to afford the surgery.

general

to lack the financial means to afford something

Many students cannot pay for college tuition.

Many students lack the money to afford college tuition.

The company cannot pay for the new equipment.

The company does not have enough funds to buy the new equipment.

This phrase emphasizes financial inability rather than unwillingness.

Collocations

cannot affordsimilar phrase meaning lack of financial ability

lack of financial ability

to cover the cost of something

Use this phrase when discussing financial limitations.

Use 'cannot pay for' to describe a lack of funds, not unwillingness.

Derived from the combination of 'cannot' (negative ability) and 'pay for' (financial transaction).

This phrase is commonly used in financial contexts to express inability to cover costs.

cannot

negative ability

root

pay

to give money in exchange

root

for

in exchange for

preposition

English Dictionary