a jar of

Meaning

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   A container made of glass or clay, usually with a lid, and the amount it holds.

   Grammar: Used before a noun to talk about a container full of something: a jar of jam, a jar of honey.

   Patterns

   • a jar of something
   • a jar of jam/honey/olives

   She bought a jar of strawberry jam at the market.

   He opened a jar of pickles for the sandwiches.

   There's a jar of honey in the cupboard.

Common combinations

a jar of jam

I need a jar of jam for breakfast.

a jar of honey

A jar of honey makes a nice gift.

a jar of olives

He added a jar of olives to the shopping list.

a jar of pickles

The shelf was full of jars of pickles.

Synonyms and how they differ

pot

A pot is similar but often rounder and used for jam, honey, or plants; a jar is usually glass with a wide mouth.

container

Container is a general word for anything that holds something; a jar is a specific type, usually glass.

Word family

jar noun

The container itself.

jarful noun

The amount that a jar can hold.

Commonly confused: a jar of or jug?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a jar of”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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