A duck swam by, its feathers glistening in the sun.
Meaning: A duck moved through the water, and its feathers were shining in the sunlight.
Choice of Words: Swim means to move through water. Feathers are the soft, flat parts that cover a bird's body. Glisten means to shine with a bright light.
Alternative Expressions
The duck swam past, its feathers sparkling in the sunlight.
Meaning: This means the same as the first sentence, but it uses different words to describe the duck's movement and the way its feathers looked in the sun.
Choice of Words:Past means by or beyond something. Sparkling means to shine with tiny, bright lights. The rest of the words are the same as in the first sentence.
A duck glided by, its plumage shimmering in the sunlight.
Meaning: This means the same as the first two sentences, but it uses more descriptive words to paint a picture of the duck's graceful movement and the way its feathers looked in the sun.
Choice of Words:Glided means to move smoothly and effortlessly through the water. Plumage is a fancy word for feathers. Shimmering means to shine with a soft, gentle light. The rest of the words are the same as in the first sentence.