What is pains? Pronunciation and usage in English

pains means . Learn how to pronounce and use pains through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of pains

painsnoun

/peɪnz//peɪnz/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "pains" in English. Here's a breakdown:

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) Pronunciation:

/peɪns/

Here's a more descriptive explanation:

  • "p": Pronounced like the "p" in "pen".
  • "ai": This is the tricky part. It’s a diphthong – a combination of two vowel sounds. It sounds like the "ay" in "say" or "day." Think of a short, quick "ah" sound blending into an "ee" sound.
  • "ns": Pronounced like "ns" in "runs" or "hands."

Putting it together: It's a quick, flowing sound. Practice saying it out loud: "Pay-nsss" (with a quick "pay" and a short "nsss").

Tips for getting it right:

  • Focus on the "ai": Many people struggle with this sound. Really try to make that blended "ah-ee" sound.
  • Don't overemphasize the "a": It’s not a long "a" sound like in "father." It’s a quick “ay” sound.
  • Listen to examples: The best way to learn is to hear it. You can find audio pronunciations on:

Would you like me to:

  • Give you some more example words with similar sounds?
  • Focus on practicing a specific part of the pronunciation?

Usage and examples with the word pains in English

Let's break down how to use the word "pains" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with a few different meanings. Here's a breakdown, categorized by usage:

1. Plural of "Pain" (Most Common)

  • Meaning: Simply referring to multiple instances of physical or emotional suffering.
  • Example: “She endured a lot of pains during childbirth.” (Referring to multiple periods of pain)
  • Example: "He carried the pains of his past mistakes with him." (Refers to multiple emotional burdens)

2. As a Noun - “Taking pains” (Effort & Care)

  • Meaning: This is a very common idiom. It means to exert considerable effort, care, or attention to do something carefully or thoroughly. It implies going above and beyond.
  • Example: “He took great pains to prepare for the presentation.” (He worked hard and carefully to get it right.)
  • Example: “She took pains to explain the complex instructions clearly.” (She made a lot of effort to ensure she was understandable.)
  • Example: “It’s important to take pains to protect your health.” (Important to be diligent and careful with health)

3. As a Noun - Difficulties & Troubles (Often a Struggle)

  • Meaning: This refers to hardships, problems, or difficulties; things that are hard to deal with. It often suggests a prolonged or significant struggle.
  • Example: “The company faced many pains in trying to reorganize.” (They had a lot of difficulties and setbacks.)
  • Example: “Dealing with a sick child brings many pains.” (It causes a lot of hardship and stress.)

4. As a Verb - “To cause pain” (Rare, but Important)

  • Meaning: This is a much less frequent usage and more formal. It means to inflict pain, either physically or emotionally.
  • Example: “The doctor asked pains to be gentle when examining the patient.” (The doctor took care to avoid causing pain.)
  • Example: “The memory pained her deeply.” (The memory caused her emotional pain)

Key Considerations and Nuances:

  • Formal vs. Informal: “Taking pains” is a more formal expression than simply saying “working hard.”
  • Context is Crucial: The meaning of “pains” is heavily dependent on the context of the sentence. Pay attention to the surrounding words to understand which meaning is intended.

Here’s a table to summarize:

Usage Meaning Example
Plural of Pain Multiple instances of pain “She felt the pains of a broken heart.”
“Taking Pains” Effort, care, diligence “He took pains to perfect his skills.”
Difficulties Hardships, problems “The project caused many pains.”
Verb (to cause) To inflict pain “The words pained him deeply.”

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about? (e.g., writing a story, giving a presentation, talking to a friend?)

Synonyms for the word pains

Idioms of the word pains

be at pains to do something
to put a lot of effort into doing something correctly
  • She was at great pains to stress the advantages of the new system.
for your pains
(especially British English, often ironic)as payment, reward or thanks for something you have done
  • I told her what I thought and got a mouthful of abuse for my pains!
take (great) pains (to do something) | go to great pains (to do something)
to put a lot of effort into doing something
  • The couple went to great pains to keep their plans secret.
take (great) pains with/over something
to do something very carefully
  • He always takes great pains with his lectures.

Practice with vocabulary pains

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The legal team took great _____ to ensure every clause in the contract was meticulously reviewed.
  2. Many developing countries are experiencing economic _____ due to global market fluctuations.
  3. The athlete felt sharp _____ in his knee after the unexpected fall.
  4. The consultant expended considerable _____ to understand the client's unique operational needs.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The meticulous editor took great _____ to ensure the manuscript was free of errors. a) care b) efforts c) pains d) trouble

  2. After the marathon, the runner experienced severe muscle _____ in his legs. a) soreness b) aches c) fatigue d) pains

  3. The primary _____ of the new economic policy is to reduce unemployment. a) objective b) aim c) goal d) suffering

  4. Despite her considerable _____ to master the new software, she still found some features challenging. a) struggles b) efforts c) endeavors d) pains

  5. The recent data breach caused significant operational _____ for the company. a) issues b) disruptions c) complications d) aches

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite the sentence to include "pains": The architect meticulously checked every blueprint detail before submission.

  2. Rewrite the sentence to include "pains": She has been experiencing a dull ache in her shoulder for several weeks.

  3. Rewrite the sentence using a suitable replacement word for "difficulties" (do not use "pains"): The project encountered various difficulties that slowed down its progress significantly.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. pains
  2. challenges
  3. pains
  4. effort

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) pains
  2. a) soreness, b) aches, d) pains
  3. a) objective, b) aim, c) goal
  4. b) efforts, c) endeavors, d) pains
  5. a) issues, b) disruptions, c) complications

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The architect took great pains to check every blueprint detail before submission.
  2. She has been experiencing dull pains in her shoulder for several weeks.
  3. The project encountered various obstacles that slowed down its progress significantly.

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