Ripe pears can give energy (3)
I believe the answer is:
pep
'energy' is the definition.
(personal energy, vim)
'ripe pears can give' is the wordplay.
'give' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (I've seen 'gives' mean this).
'PEP' is hidden within 'ripe pears can'.
(Other definitions for pep that I've seen before include "savings plan" , "Palindrome for vigour" , "Energy, zip" , "Ginger; tax-free investment" , "Go" .)