What is the difference between pair, pear, and pare?

A pair is two things that go together: a pair of shoes. A pear is a sweet green or yellow fruit. To pare is to cut the skin off a fruit or vegetable.

Do you say a pair of pants is or are?

Use is : This pair of pants is too long. The subject is pair , which is singular. Without pair , use are : These pants are too long.

How do I remember pair, pear, and pare?

A p ear has an ear in it — it is the fruit. A p air is two things, like a pair of shoes. To p are ends in -are , like bare — paring leaves the fruit bare.

Level: B1

Pair vs Pear vs Pare

Pair (two things together), pear (the fruit), and pare (to cut the skin off) all sound the same. Remember: a pear has an ear. Practice with the sentences below.

🔍 Confused words · pair 33 of 54 ⏱ about 5 minutes 🔊 every sentence has audio

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For Matching Game quizzes, choose sentences that include more than one of the words below. If you pick sentences with only one word, the quiz will automatically add a sentence using another word.

Pair – two things that go together.
I bought a new ______ of shoes. – pair
She needs a ______ of scissors. – pair
Bring a clean ______ of socks. – pair
This ______ of jeans fits me well. – pair
He lost one ______ of gloves at school. – pair
Every student needs a ______ of safety glasses. – pair
The teacher put us in a ______ for the game. – pair
That ______ of birds built a nest. – pair
My old ______ of boots still works. – pair
Can I borrow a ______ of headphones? – pair
A ______ of swans swam across the lake. – pair
She keeps a spare ______ of keys. – pair
This ______ of pants is too long. – pair
He packed another ______ of shorts. – pair
The dancers moved as a ______. – pair
I need a ______ of chopsticks. – pair
Pear – a sweet green or yellow fruit.
She ate a ripe ______ for lunch. – pear
This ______ is very sweet. – pear
The ______ tree in our yard is old. – pear
He cut the ______ into four pieces. – pear
A green ______ sat in the bowl. – pear
I like ______ juice with breakfast. – pear
The ______ fell from the branch. – pear
She picked a ______ from the tree. – pear
This ______ is not ready to eat. – pear
My favorite fruit is the ______. – pear
He put a ______ in his lunch bag. – pear
The ______ turned brown after an hour. – pear
Would you like a slice of ______? – pear
She baked a ______ pie for the party. – pear
This ______ has very soft skin. – pear
Wash the ______ before you eat it. – pear
Pare – to cut the skin off a fruit or vegetable.
Please ______ the apple before you slice it. – pare
She used a small knife to ______ the potatoes. – pare
You should ______ the carrots first. – pare
Ask him to ______ the vegetables for the soup. – pare
Do not ______ the skin too thickly. – pare
The chef showed us how to ______ a pear. – pare
It is easier to ______ soft fruit. – pare
The company had to ______ its costs. – pare
Learn to ______ an apple in one long strip. – pare
He began to ______ the thick skin off the melon. – pare

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between pair, pear, and pare?: A pair is two things that go together: a pair of shoes. A pear is a sweet green or yellow fruit. To pare is to cut the skin off a fruit or vegetable.
Do you say a pair of pants is or are?: Use is: This pair of pants is too long. The subject is pair, which is singular. Without pair, use are: These pants are too long.
How do I remember pair, pear, and pare?: A pear has an ear in it — it is the fruit. A pair is two things, like a pair of shoes. To pare ends in -are, like bare — paring leaves the fruit bare.