pair
A2Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
Two things of the same type that are used or considered together.
A set of two people or things that are connected or work together; to put two things together or to form a couple.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to identical items (a pair of socks) or complementary items (a pair of shoes). As a verb, it implies matching or partnering.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The verb 'to pair off' (to form couples) is slightly more common in British English. In clothing, BrE might use 'a pair of trousers' where AmE could also say 'a pair of pants' (with 'pants' meaning trousers in AmE).
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
pair (N) with (N)pair (N) togetherpair offVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pair of hands (a worker)”
- “show a clean pair of heels (to run away)”
- “pair off (to form romantic couples)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to strategic partnerships or paired products (e.g., 'We paired our software with their hardware').
Academic
Used in statistics (paired samples), biology (chromosome pairs), and linguistics (minimal pairs).
Everyday
Common for clothing, body parts, and everyday objects (a pair of scissors).
Technical
In computing: a data structure (e.g., key-value pair); in electronics: twisted pair cabling.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The teacher decided to pair off the students for the project.
- This wine pairs beautifully with strong cheese.
American English
- The coach paired the tallest players together.
- The app pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Pair programming is a common agile technique.
- The pair bond in swans is very strong.
American English
- Look for the pair entry in the data set.
- They offer a pair discount for tickets.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need a new pair of shoes.
- She bought a pair of sunglasses.
- Can you find the matching pair for this sock?
- They make an interesting pair.
- The researcher used a paired sample t-test for the analysis.
- The chef recommends pairing the fish with a crisp white wine.
- The diplomatic talks were conducted by a pair of seasoned negotiators.
- These observations form a curious pair, seemingly contradictory yet interconnected.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PEAR fruit cut in half – you have two matching halves that make a PAIR.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOGETHERNESS IS A PAIR (e.g., a happy pair, a pair of friends).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'pair' for a romantic couple in formal contexts – 'couple' is better. 'Пара' in Russian can mean 'a couple of' meaning 'a few', but in English 'a pair' strictly means two.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'a pair of' with uncountable nouns (e.g., 'a pair of furniture' is wrong). Using plural verb with 'a pair of' when referring to the pair as a single unit (e.g., 'This pair of trousers is blue' is correct).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'pair' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually 'a pair is' when treating it as a single unit (a pair of shoes is). Use 'a pair are' if emphasizing the individuals (the pair are always arguing).
Yes, often for two people working together or in a relationship (a pair of detectives, a married pair).
'Pair' emphasizes a matched or functional set (pair of socks). 'Couple' is more general for two items and is the standard term for two people in a romance.
Historically, items like trousers, scissors, and glasses were made in two connected parts, hence treated as a plural pair.