What could cause a sore throat? it hurts to swollow anything but water.

Viral pharyngitis: This sounds like standard viral pharyngitis. If you have high fever (over 101), white patches in the throat, or swollen tender lumps in your neck or under the jaw, see your doctor to get checked for other things, like strep throat. Otherwise no worries; it should get better soon. In the meantime, if severe pain try aspirin or acetaminophen and/or benzocaine lozenges (e.g. Cepacol and others).