Many items that we buy come in containers. Containers may have a specific name depending on their shape and the material they are made of.
In this lesson, learn the vocabulary for various containers and click on each link to listen to the sound file. Below, find the same vocabulary with corresponding photos.
Theses are the names of some common materials used to make containers:
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| Aluminum |
| Canvas |
| Cardboard |
| Ceramic |
| Metal |
| Paper |
| Plastic |
| Wood |
Here are images that show different types of containers.
| Bag / Sack – Bag and sack are synonyms. Some regions of North America tend to use one term more than the other. |
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| canvas carrying bag | paper shopping bag | plastic bag |
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| bag of flour | bag of compost | |
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| Barrel | ||
| wood | ||
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| Basket – Baskets are often made from woven natural materials including grass, wood strips, and reeds. Now, many baskets are also made of plastic. |
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| plastic | grass | wood strips |
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| grocery basket | laundry basket | |
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| Bottle | ||
| glass wine bottle | plastic water bottle | plastic shampoo bottle |
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| Box | ||
| cardboard box | box of tissues | box of matches |
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| plastic box | wooden box | |
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| Bucket / Pail | ||
| plastic | wood | metal |
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| Can – A can refers to a container made of metal. Some of these containers are now made of plastic but they continue to be referred to as "cans." |
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| garbage cans | ||
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| watering can | gas can / container | |
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| can of soda | can of olives | spray can |
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| Carton (paper) | ||
| egg carton | milk carton | carton of cigarettes |
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| Case | ||
| glasses case | paint set case | |
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| case of beer | suitcase | CD/DVD case |
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| Chest | ||
| ice chest | ||
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| Crate | ||
| fruit crate | vegetable crate | |
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| Envelope | ||
| manila envelope | letter envelope | padded envelope |
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| Jar – Jars are only made of glass. The difference between a bottle and a jar is a bottle has a small mouth. Usually, the mouth of a jar is the same diameter as the jar itself. |
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| jar of peanut butter | glass jar | storage jar |
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| Jug | ||
| plastic (5 liter) | ||
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| Pack | ||
| pack of chewing gum | pack of cigarettes | |
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| Pitcher | ||
| ceramic | glass | plastic |
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| Tray – Trays are usually shallow (sides not deep), flat, rectangular containers. | ||
| metal cooking tray | aluminum cookie tray / cookie sheet |
plastic ice cube tray |
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| wood serving tray | plastic paper tray | |
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| Tub | ||
| tub of ice cream | ||
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| Tube – Tubes are cylindrical and may open at both ends or just one end. | ||
| cardboard tube | plastic tube of lotion | metal toothpaste tube |
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| Other containers | ||
| food storage containers | trash receptacle / container / can |
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| container ship | ||
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Other useful vocabulary:
