Ants march in a line.

Meaning: This sentence describes how ants move in a colony.

Choice of Words: Ants are small, social insects that live in colonies. March means to walk with a regular, steady step. Line is a long, narrow mark or band.

Alternative Expressions

The ants are marching in a line.

Meaning: This sentence is also describing how ants move. It is more specific than the first sentence because it tells us that the ants are currently marching in a line.

Choice of Words: The is used to identify a specific group of ants. Are is the present tense of the verb to be, which means that something exists or is happening now. Marching is the present tense of the verb to march, which means to walk in a straight line, like soldiers do. Line is a straight row of something. When you put them together, "The ants are marching in a line" means that the ants are currently walking in a straight row, one after the other.

In a line, the ants march.

Meaning: This sentence is describing how ants move. It is similar to the first sentence, but it emphasizes that the ants are walking in a line.

Choice of Words: In is a preposition that means inside or within something. Line is a straight row of something. The is used to identify a specific group of ants. Ants are tiny insects that live in colonies and work together. March means to walk in a straight line, like soldiers do. When you put them together, "In a line, the ants march" means that the ants are walking in a straight row, one after the other.

Related Expressions