What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pave
Example
The city decided to pave the street with asphalt to improve its condition. [pave: verb]
Example
The workers are busy paving the new parking lot with concrete. [paving: gerund or present participle]
surface
Example
The surface of the lake was calm and still in the morning. [surface: noun]
Example
The workers are smoothing out the surface of the tennis court before painting it. [surface: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Surface is more commonly used than pave in everyday language. Surface is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pave is less common and refers to a specific type of construction.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pave and surface?
Both pave and surface can be used in formal and informal contexts, but pave may be slightly more formal due to its association with construction and engineering.
