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Meaning & use

in pairs

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ɪn ˈpeəz/
US/ɪn ˈperz/

Meaning

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    Arranged, working or sold as groups of two.

    Grammar: Follows a plural subject or object: students worked in pairs.

    Patterns

    • work in pairs
    • sold in pairs
    • arranged in pairs

    The students will practice the dialogue in pairs.

    These earrings are sold in pairs.

    Penguins walked in pairs along the shore.

Common combinations

work in pairs
Please work in pairs for this task.
arranged in pairs
The chairs were arranged in pairs.
come in pairs
Socks come in pairs.
travel in pairs
The guards travel in pairs.

Synonyms and how they differ

in twos
In twos is more casual and sounds like speech.
two by two
Two by two is more picturesque and suggests lines of couples moving.
as couples
As couples suggests romantic partners, while in pairs does not.

Opposites

aloneindividually

Word family

pair noun
two things of the same kind
pair verb
to put together as two
paired adjective
joined as two

Commonly confused: in pairs or in pair?

in pairs vs in pair

This is wrong; use in pairs, or in a pair for one pair.

Practice

The teacher asked the class to work ____ for the speaking activity.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “in pairs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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