Showing posts with label pear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pear. Show all posts

Friday, November 11, 2011

pair, pear, pare

Pair or pair means two matching things or people--
He bought a new pair of socks.
Don't they make a pretty pair?

Pear or pear ( rhymes with pair ) is the usually green pear-shaped fruit--
Would you prefer an apple or a pear?
There is a pear tree in the backyard.

Pare or pare( rhymes with pair ) means to peel a fruit or a vegetable, or to cut off the outer layer of something--
Don't forget to pare the potatoes.
You can't pare an apple with a butter knife.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The old Christmas song calls for a partridge in a pear tree and a pair of turtledoves."
"I can't find either of the pair of knives I need to pare the pear."

Note--"a pear" ( uh pare ), means one pear --
Would you like a pear?
Not to be confused with "appear" ( uh peer  ), meaning to become visible or come into sight--
"When what to my wondering eyes should appear...".
Appear also means to play in a movie, stage show, or other performance--
The famous comedian will appear later in the show.
Note # 2--au pair ( oh pare )  is a borrowed French phrase for a nanny or childcare professional--
They decided to hire an au pair for the summer.