The fire burned the house.

Meaning: This means that a fire caused damage to a building where people live.

Choice of Words: Fire is a natural phenomenon that involves the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and smoke. Burn means to be on fire or to be destroyed by fire. House is a building where people live.

Alternative Expressions

The flames engulfed the house.

Meaning: This means that the fire has spread all over the house. It's like saying, The fire has covered the house completely.

Choice of Words: Flames are a noun that refers to the visible part of a fire. Engulf is a verb that means to surround or cover something completely. House is a noun that refers to a building where people live. When you put these words together, "The flames engulfed the house" describes a situation where a fire has completely surrounded and covered a house.

The house was reduced to ashes.

Meaning: This means that the fire has destroyed the house completely and only ashes are left. It's like saying, The fire has turned the house into ashes.

Choice of Words: House is a noun that refers to a building where people live. Reduce is a verb that means to make something smaller or less. Ashes are the remains of something that has been burned. When you put these words together, "The house was reduced to ashes" describes a situation where a fire has destroyed a house and left only the ashes behind.

Related Expressions