What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
barn
Example
The farmer stored his hay in the barn. [barn: noun]
Example
They built a new barn on their property to house their horses. [barn: noun]
shed
Example
I keep my gardening tools in the shed. [shed: noun]
Example
He shed tears of joy when he received the good news. [shed: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shed is more commonly used than barn in everyday language. Shed is a more general term that can be applied to various storage structures, while barn is specific to agricultural settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between barn and shed?
While shed is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, barn is more commonly associated with a rural or agricultural setting and may be considered more formal.