The rain caused the river to overflow.

Meaning: This means that the rain made the water in the river rise and flow over the top or sides of the river.

Choice of Words: Caused means made something happen. Overflow means to flow over the top or sides of something. River is a large natural stream of water.

Alternative Expressions

The rain made the river too full.

Meaning: This means that the river had so much water in it that it started to overflow.

Choice of Words: Rain is the moisture that falls from the clouds in the sky. Made means to cause something to happen. River is a body of water that flows on the land. Too full means to have more than enough of something. When you put them together, "The rain made the river too full" means that the rain caused the river to have more water than it could hold.

The river couldn't hold all the water from the rain.

Meaning: This means that the river had so much water in it that it started to overflow.

Choice of Words: River is a body of water that flows on the land. Couldn't means to be unable to do something. Hold means to keep something in place. Water is the liquid that falls from the clouds in the sky. From means to come from a particular place or source. Rain is the moisture that falls from the clouds in the sky. When you put them together, "The river couldn't hold all the water from the rain" means that the river was unable to keep all of the water that came from the rain.

Related Expressions