Learn Word Pairs for Everyday Conversation

Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English with  Jennifer. Every now and then, I get a really good  

question from a viewer, and then I have a topic  for a future video. I actually have stacks and  

stacks of sticky notes with ideas. I just don't  have the time to make all the lessons I want to.  

Little by little, I share what I can. A few years  ago, I created a lesson on word pairs, and we  

practiced some of those combinations by reading  a text that I wrote for you. In this lesson,  

we'll practice another set of word pairs that will  serve you well in everyday conversation. Okay?  

First, if you're not a subscriber, please  click the subscribe button and be sure to  

get notifications when I upload new videos. Let's  begin. What's a word pair? It's when we have two  

words joined together by a conjunction (and,  or) or possibly a preposition. The two words  

are equal grammatically. Now and then. (adverb  + adverb) Stacks and stacks. (noun + noun)  

Some grammar sources use the term "binomials,"  "binomial phrases," or "binomial expressions."  

BI- means two, so something is being  named with two connected words.  

I like the term "word pairs." I think  it's easier to say and easier to remember.  

Word pairs might repeat the same word, like  "little by little." But often they're two  

different words, and we can't always switch the  word order -- so there are word pairs that are  

reversible, and there are word pairs that are  irreversible. "Day and night" can also be said  

as "night and day." Here are some word pairs we  don't reverse: now and then, salt and pepper.

I bet you know some word pairs already.  You tell me the missing word. Back and

forth. Up and

down. Left and

right. Bread and

butter. North and

south. East and

west. Ladies and

gentlemen. Boys and girls. Sooner or later. Notice  that most word pairs use "and," when we say this  

conjunction, we usually reduce the vowel sound. It  sounds like /ən/. Bread and butter. Up and down.

There are a number of word pairs with  "nice" in American English. And "nice"  

functions more like an intensifier for the  second adjective or adverb. Take it nice and  

easy. Meaning "be very careful or gentle."  Go nice and slow. Meaning "go really slow."  

We also like combinations with "go."  You've probably heard these pairs of verbs:  

go and see, go and look, go and get.  Let's go and see that new movie.

My brother told me to go and look out the window.

I have to go and get some  things from the pharmacy.  

In that last set of word pairs, we sometimes drop  "and" in conversation, and it still makes sense.  

Let's go see Aunt Sue and  Uncle Frank this weekend.

I need to get home. I have to  go do laundry before tomorrow.

Here's a grammar point you need to understand. A  lot of word pairs use nouns, and we can use the  

entire word pair as the subject of a sentence. If  you perceive that subject as a collective group,  

a unit, you can use a singular verb. Macaroni and  cheese is a favorite dish among American children.  

We also call it "mac'n cheese." It's  a dish, one dish. Singular verb.  

Compare that to this example.  Pizza and soda were available.  

Now I have a compound subject. Two  things, so I use a plural verb.

Now, do we say "law and order  is" or "law and order are"?

The dictionary defines "law and order" as  a state or a situation. It's when people  

obey the law and authorities make sure there's  order. I could ask, "Is law and order essential?"  

But honestly, I think listeners are  ready to hear either the singular or  

the plural verb in that question. Family  and friends are welcome to visit campus.  

And that's reversible. I could say, "Friends and  family are welcome to visit." A similar word pair,  

by the way, is "friends and relatives."  But I think that's a little less common.  

Let me share a list of 12 word pairs you  should know for everyday English. You may  

know some of them already. If there are any that  are new, practice using them. Write some example  

sentences. Read the comments and learn from  each other. All in all. This is like "overall"  

or "in general." It's conversational. All  in all, I had a really good time in Paris.  

Step by step. This is similar to "little  by little." Something happens gradually.

Step by step, we make  progress as language learners.  

More or less. This means "almost." It's  kind of vague. You can tell someone,  

"I'm more or less done." And this implies  that you just have a little bit more to do.  

Give or take. This word pair is useful  when you want to give an estimated number  

or amount. You can't be exact. There were about  20 people at the meeting, give or take a few.

Old and gray. Sometimes we talk humorously  about aging. "Old and gray" refers to those  

advanced years. When I'm old and gray, I  think I'll still be teaching in some way.  

Life and death or life or death.  This word pair describes a serious,  

urgent matter. Often we use it in the negative.  This isn't a matter of life and death. Relax.

We can also turn this word pair into a  compound modifier, and then we hyphenate it.  

Come on. This isn't a life-or-death decision.  Do you want to eat out or stay home?

Do's and don'ts. This word pair refers to  rules that tell us what we can and can't do  

every workplace has their do's and don'ts,  so try to learn them when you join a company.  

Ins and outs. This refers to all the  details and complexities of something.  

If you want to know the ins and outs  of investing, I recommend this book.  

Live and learn. This is often said by itself. It  sounds like a proverb because it contains wisdom.  

We learn through life experience. Right? Sometimes  we say it as a whole sentence: You live and learn.  

That was a tough lesson for me, but you, know  live and learn .I didn't repeat that mistake again

Safe and sound. This emphasizes that  someone is out of danger and unharmed.  

Every parent wants to know their teenager  is safe and sound no matter where they are.

Peace and quiet. This is another word pair that  sounds redundant, but we use it for emphasis.  

I love the peace and quiet of  nature. I don't like city noise.  

Off and on or on and off. This word pair  means "occasionally or not regularly."  

Actors might get work off and on. Not  all are lucky enough to work year-round.  

Can you think of other professions  where people work on and off?

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Sometimes you'll hear word pairs and you'll  have to make sense of them just like you do  

with other vocabulary. See if you understand  these word pairs. Identify the correct meaning.  

1. Financial stability is certainly more  desirable than living hand to mouth.

2. Your fight is mine. I'll stand  shoulder to shoulder with you.

3. I listened to him complain day after day.

4. Day by day, we make progress.

That's all for now. Please remember to like and  share the video if you found the lesson useful.  

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