What is pour? Pronunciation and usage in English

Let's break down how to use the word "pour" in English. It's a versatile word with several different meanings and uses! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. As a Verb (To Cause Liquid to Flow)

This is the most common use. “Pour” means to cause a liquid to flow from a container.

• Basic Usage:

  • "She poured milk into the cereal." (Simple action of pouring)
  • "He poured a glass of water." (Similar to above)
  • "Please pour some juice for the children." (A request)

• Types of Pouring:

  • Pouring from a container: "He poured wine from the bottle."
  • Pouring onto something: "She poured salt over the pizza."
  • Pouring a continuous stream: “The faucet leaked and was constantly pouring water.”
  • Pouring out (emotion): “She poured out her heart to her friend.” (Meaning to express emotions freely, often sadness or worry) – This is a figurative use.

2. As a Verb (To Move Something – Less Common)

“Pour” can also mean to move something, often quickly or haphazardly. This usage is less frequent than the liquid-pouring definition.

• Moving People/Things: “The crowd poured into the stadium.” (A large group of people moving together)
• Moving Objects: "The leaves poured from the tree in the wind." (Leaves falling, often quickly)

3. As a Noun (A Stream of Liquid)

When used as a noun, “pour” refers to the flow itself.

• “There was a pour of rain.” (A heavy rain)
• “She created a beautiful pour of chocolate sauce.” (Referring to the flowing chocolate)

4. Phrasal Verbs with "Pour"

• Pour over: To study something carefully and in detail. “He poured over the textbook all night.”
• Pour out: (As mentioned above – expressive) “She poured out her feelings.”
• Pour into: To transfer something into something else. “He poured into his students.” (Meaning to invest time and energy)

Tips & Considerations:

• Prepositions: “Pour” is often followed by prepositions like “into,” “onto,” “out of,” “over,” and “down.”
• Tense: “Pour” can be used in all tenses: present, past, future.
  • Present: “We pour coffee every morning.”
  • Past: “She poured a cup of tea.”
  • Future: “I will pour you a drink.”

Examples Putting it All Together:

• "He carefully poured the orange juice into the glass." (Verb - liquid)
• "The storm produced a torrential pour of rain." (Noun - flow)
• “She poured over the map, trying to find the quickest route.” (Phrasal verb)
• “The refugees poured out of the camp and into the streets.” (Verb - movement)

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

• What are you trying to do with the word “pour”? (e.g., write a story, explain a concept, etc.)
• Is there a specific sentence you're struggling with?