ESEN
Which one to use?Beginnernounnoun / verb
PearvsPair
'Pear' is the fruit; 'pair' means two matching things or people that go together.
Side-by-side comparison
Pear
noun"Pear" is the sweet fruit with a rounded bottom and narrower top, green or yellow. "Pear-shaped" in British informal means something went wrong.
She sliced a ripe pear over the salad and added a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
The pear tree in the garden produces more fruit than the family can eat each autumn.
The whole project went pear-shaped when the supplier failed to deliver on time.
Pair
noun / verb"Pair" is a set of two matching or complementary things or people. "A pair of shoes" = two shoes that go together. Also the verb to match or combine two things.
She bought a new pair of running shoes before the half-marathon.
The wine was paired with a delicate sea bass and a lemon butter sauce.
The two founders make a great pair, one handles operations, the other focuses on vision.
Common mistake
- •"A pear of glasses" when meaning eyewear is wrong (correct: pair).
- •The fruit is always "pear." These sound identical; confusion only appears in writing.
Trick to remember it
- •"Pear" has EAR like "eat" and "pEAch", fruits you eat.
- •"Pair" has AIR like "chair", something you sit in comes in pairs.
Quick rule
Is it the fruit? "Pear". Is it two matching things? "Pair".
Did you know?
The British expression "pear-shaped" (meaning things went wrong) may originate from RAF aerobatics: a badly executed loop that looked pear-shaped rather than circular indicated a failed maneuver. PAIR comes from Latin "paria" (equal things), the same root as "compare" (literally "to put in pairs") and "parity." The word PEAR comes from Old English "peru" / Latin "pirum." Interestingly, "pair programming" in software development, two developers working at one keyboard, uses the word in its most modern, technical sense.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She bought a _____ of gloves for the winter. They were on sale.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Would you like an apple or a _____? We have both in the fruit bowl.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
AcceptvsExcept
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
AdvicevsAdvise
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
AffectvsEffect
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy