2006-12-23 05:37:12 · 17 answers · asked by maggie 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Two shoes are not necessarily a pair! A pair is two MATCHING shoes. For example, if you're wearing a running shoe on one foot and a sandal on the other, you are NOT wearing a pair of shoes (and you may also be a little bit weird...).
A pair of jeans is a little redundant. ("I live in my jeans" is a perfectly acceptable statement and clearly understood.) However, you could correctly say I have two (or more) pairs of jeans.
2006-12-23 05:49:56 · answer #1 · answered by pat z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you say 2 pairs of shoes, you are implying that there are 4 actual shoes. 2 shoes just means 2 shoes, not 2 pairs. Grammatically speaking, 2 pairs of jeans is correct, but if you were to say 2 jeans, people would be able to understand that you are talking about 2 pairs of jeans.
2006-12-23 06:44:19 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about a pair of shoes, you can substitute a pair with 2 shoes. If you are talking about a pair of jeans, you can not call them 2 jeans because you only have one pair, but 2 different legs, so you must use a pair of jeans. If you have 2 pair of jeans, you have to say 2 pair of jeans, not 2 jeans, you could be mistaken for talking about you biological make up.
2006-12-23 06:28:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two shoes would be a pair of shoes. Two pairs of shoes would be four shoes in total. A pair of jeans is only one item of clothing. I have no idea what two jeans would be. Do people say that? "I picked up two jeans that were on sale." I guess I would figure that was two items of clothing, but said incorrectly.
ETA: Yes, I agree that two left shoes would not be a pair, nor would one of your shoes and one of mine. So I should have said that a pair of shoes would be two shoes.
2006-12-23 05:41:38 · answer #4 · answered by senlin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a pair of shoes and jeans
2006-12-23 05:41:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well yes...two shoes means ..two shoes.
two pairs of shoes means four shoes.
However one pair of jeans = one jeans but for some reason "one jeans" is never used.English again!!!
2006-12-23 06:13:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are 4 shoes in 2 pairs. 2 of something is a pair, so if u want to say 2 shoes, you would say ONE pair
2006-12-23 08:13:42 · answer #7 · answered by melissa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some reason, items of clothing with two legs we call a 'pair' eg. a pair of jeans - a pair of trousers - a pair of shorts/ pants/ but not clothing with two arms - we don't say 'a pair of shirts', here it would mean two shirts. 'Shoes' is easier because they are an actual pair ie. they come in twos like a pair of gloves or a pair of socks. Why we have a pair of scissors but not a pair of hair straighteners - I have no idea.
2006-12-23 05:54:00 · answer #8 · answered by kelebek 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can have two shoes, but they aren't necessarily a pair.
One could be mine, the other yours.
Jeans always come in pairs, though....
2006-12-23 05:50:31 · answer #9 · answered by efes_haze 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Things that are always in two but actually one is called a a pair. (you cannot go without the other)
Ex: She bought two pairs of jeans yesterday. (there are
two jeans)
A pair is always plural. Scissors,too.
Hope l was of help.
2006-12-23 05:48:20 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋