learndirect English: Learn English Online (English)

learndirect English is a unique and enjoyable online English-language learning experience. You’ll develop all your language skills through a story of real-life situations that revolve around you and other characters living in the virtual world of Velawoods™.

On the Playground (Song)

Let's Play on the PLAYGROUND!

Learn Your Homophones: Pear, Pair, and Pare

by Ann Edwards • May 05, 2015

Pair: two of something, usually that are similar or go together. For example:

I’m going to buy a new pair of shoes.
Johnny and Sally make a cute pair.

Pear: a fruit. For example:
Rufus is eating an apple, and I am eating a pear.
The pear was ripe and juicy.

Pare: trim (something) by cutting away its outer edges; cut the skin off of something; reduce (something) in size, extent, quantity, or number, usually in a number of small successive stages. For example:
Each summer he pares a large number of branches from the trees in the backyard.
When making an apple pie, pare the skin off the apples first.
They have significantly pared down the number of people on their team.

Now that you know the difference between these words see if this sentence makes sense to you: Before I eat them, I will pare this pair of pears.

To learn more about confusing words, read this post about word pairs.

CAR AND BICYCLE VOCABULARY

Somewhere along the way, we've all had a teacher who changed our lives

Kamal ElQasem - Thanks for sharing!

A schoolteacher, a parent, a coach, a friend — learning comes in many forms, and so do teachers. As part of its " Man on the Street" series, SoulPancake set out to hear about the teachers who work every day to change lives.
The segment is full of too many "awww" moments to count, but it also has some great insight to share about what makes a great teacher: someone who's personable, imaginative, has a deep heart, and truly cares about their students as more than just numbers.
And of course, the clip ends with everyone thanking their favorite teachers.

I MARRIED A SERB - VIDEO

I Married a Serb! from anberin on Vimeo.