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Pain vs. Pane

Let's talk a bit about the similarity between "pain" and "pane". Their almost identical spelling and pronunciation makes it very easy for inexperienced English users to confuse them. If you are one of the people who wants to clarify this matter, no worries! You have come to the right place. We'll help you out knowing the difference between "pain" and "pane" and how to use them correctly in your own sentences.


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  Charlotte B  —  Grammar Tips
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Pain vs. Pane

The first thing to remember regarding the differences between "pain" and "pane" is their grammatical functions, which are distinct. "Pain" can function both as a verb and as a noun in a sentence, whereas "pane" is always used as a noun only. For a deeper understanding of the significances these words carry, check the sections below. We also included some relevant examples to illustrate their definitions.

When should I use "pain"?

As stated above, "pain" can appear both as a verb and as a noun in a sentence. The meaning, in both cases, refers to the same concept. As a noun, the word refers to the unpleasant physical discomfort/feeling, caused by an injury or an illness. Used metaphorically, it can also refer to the emotional unpleasant feeling, sadness or mental suffering caused by an unpleasant event.

On the other hand, as a verb, the word is only used in a formal context. "Pain" is a formal verb which defines the action of determining someone to feel sad or upset about something.

Example 1: The pain in her chest was getting sharper, so she called the doctor. - "pain" is mostly used as a noun that defines a physical discomfort caused by an injury/illness.

Example 2: I can never describe the pain I feel every time I realize I lost everything. - as a noun, "pain" can also refer to the sadness caused by an unpleasant event.

Example 3: It will always pain him to see people around him suffer, because of his empathetic personality. - "pain" is formally used as a verb referring to someone who feels distress.

Pain vs. Pane

When do we use "pane"?

The explanation for "pane" is nothing like "pain". It is much simpler and easy to remember. "Pane" always appears as a noun, and its only definition is the flat piece of glass from a window or a door.

Example: He used a rock to break a pane of glass from the window. - "pane" defines a flat piece of glass from a window.

Conclusion

The easiest way to distinguish "pain" from "pane" is to remember the easier definition: "pane" is always used as a noun only, referring to a flat piece of glass from a door or window. The more complex definition is carried by the other word, "pain", which can be used both as a verb and as a noun as explained above.

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