Hi friends and welcome back to a new lesson. Well, which pair do you like from all different
stars? Who do you like? My favorite, I think my favorite pair is Angelina Jolie and Brad
Pitt, they look great together. Well, If you notice, I used the word pair, so what does
a pair mean? A pair and why did I use pair? I used it because we are talking about two
people being together. They make a good couple, so that is what we are going to learn in today's
lesson. Using the phrase a pair of. Now we use this all the time, It's something very
common, but there are certain things and small rules that we must not forget, when we use
this phrase a pair of , so first let's understand a pair of means always two things, there could
be two things that are used together or come together or two items that are joint together
and they are always in a pair. So you have a pair of earrings, you have a pair of shoes,
you have a pair of trousers, you have a pair of gloves and we use a pair of because they
are always two. In case of trousers, you have your right leg, left leg and so on. So well
today we are gonna look at how to use a pair of, when you talk about a single pair and
when you talk about multiple pairs.
So If I tell you, This pair of shoes is smarter. Now just imagine, I'm comparing two pairs
and I say this shoe, this pair of shoes is smarter. Now I'm talking about one pair, so
this is one pair, but remember the noun, the object that your'e talking about, will always
be in plural. Because the pair consists of two shoes, the right leg and the left leg
or the right foot and the left foot. So you always use the noun in plural and do not say,
this pair of shoe. This is absolutely incorrect, because there are two shoes, but yes two shoes
together make one pair. So because we are talking about a single pair, the verb that
follows is singular. This is very important, so when I say this pair of shoes is, because
It's just one pair, so the verb always has to be singular, so a lot of people get confused
and feel this pair of shoes are, no because we are talking about one single pair. So this
pair of shoes is smarter, so remember when you talk about a singular pair, though it
is just one pair. The pair of and the object is always plural and because it's a single
pair, you will use a singular verb.
In my next example, Your pair of glasses. Now can I say a pair of glass? I'm talking
about one pair? No, the noun is always plural, so your pair of glasses is broken. The verb
is singular, because you are talking about one single pair. Do not use are here, this
is absolutely incorrect, because it's a single pair. I hope you are following these basic
rules. The next example, The pair diamond earrings. Well, I love possessing these, The
pair of diamond earrings is expensive.Now we have earrings a pair. We are talking about
a single pair though there are two earrings, but one pair and here you have the noun. You
do not say the pair of diamond earring. No It's the pair of diamond earrings is expensive
and see there again, we have a singular verb because we are just talking about one pair.
So this is how we use a pair of something, when we talk about one pair remember it's
very simple, the noun is always plural and the verb is always singular because we are
talking about a single pair.
Now let's take a look at how do we use pairs of? So when I talk about more then a single
pair. It goes in plural, so you don't say a pair of shoes, you say pairs of shoes, five
pairs, six pairs. So here we have a sentence several pairs, many pairs, so you have several
pairs. Now if you see pair has become pairs, so you have pairs. You use the word pair as
pairs in the plural form. Several pairs of shoes are missing, so now you see, when you
talk about more then one pair, you add an S to pairs of shoes, your noun is anyways
in the plural and the verb is plural, because you are talking about many pairs.If your'e a little confused,
just replace it with a pronoun. They are missing, several pairs, they are missing. So you have
a plural verb, so remember pair becomes pairs of noun is always in the verb plural and this
time the verb is plural because your'e talking about many pairs. Two pairs of spectacles
are in the drawer. Now I have two pairs that's obviously in the plural of spectacles. As
usual in the plural here object or your noun are in the drawer. Can I say he's in the drawer?
Two pairs is in the drawer, No because we are talking about more then one pair. Use
a plural verb. And my last example, Five pairs of earrings costs a lot of money. Five pairs
more then one pair, you have pairs in the plural. Earrings also in the plural as always
cost. Now this is a plural verb, had it been a singular verb. It would have been costs
with an S, but we cannot use that because we are talking about five pairs. So five pairs
of earrings cost, I have used a plural verb because we are talking about five pairs cost
a lot of money.
So remember when you talk about more then one pair, you use the word pairs of something.
So pairs of shoes, pairs of earrings, pairs of gloves, followed by a plural verb because
you are talking about more then one pair. I hope these little rules are clear to you?
But when sometimes we do not use the word a pair, when we are suppose to, but we always
say, Those pants look great or those are not mine or those shoes are not mine. So that
time, when we do not use a pair of, all you need to so is use a plural verb. Now let's
take an example, Ideally I should say, The pair of scissors is blunt, because it's a
pair of scissors, we have two items together and they always work together, but generally
people say, Oh the scissors are blunt, so remember when you do not use a pair of, when
your'e supposed to use. All you need to do is use a plural verb, so for example, The
scissors, Oh by the way, it's always scissors. It's never scissor. The scissors are not is
are blunt or when you compliment your friend, you say, Your jeans are smart, you do not
say, your jeans is smart. But remember if you compliment then say, Your pair of jeans,
your pair, one pair is smart. But like I said colloquially that means informally, we often
do not use a pair of , when we are supposed to use. So well that's okay that's the choice
you make, but do use it correctly. Follow it by a plural verb remember this rule. And
also remember, when you use a pair of for a single pair, followed by singular verb,
because your'e talking about one and when you talk about multiple pairs follow it by
a plural verb, because your'e talking about many pairs.
Okay friends this brings me to the end of this lesson. I hope you enjoyed it. I have
a small test for you, do take it and let me know. I'll be back soon with a new lesson.
Till then continue learning, continue practicing.