word choice - "Pay attention" vs. "give attention"


Between 'pay' and 'give' I guess you are most likely to choose 'give' for the blank below. However, 'pay' sounds more suited for the second 'attention.' I wonder why. Is it because the second sentence is in the negative, or because the first is in the order of (person) (attention), not the other way around: (attention) to (person)?



All of us were supposed to [pay/give] Chris our undivided attention for the next hour, but I didn't pay him much attention because I was not at all interested in the topic.





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