The children were laughing and playing in the sand.

Meaning: This sentence is also describing a group of young people who are having fun and playing in the sand. However, this sentence uses the past tense of the verb be, which means that the action is happening at a specific time in the past.

Choice of Words: The is a definite article that is used to refer to a specific noun. Were is the past tense of the verb be, which is used to describe the state or condition of something. Laughing is the present participle of the verb laugh, which means to make a sound with your mouth and nose when you are happy or amused. Playing is the present participle of the verb play, which means to have fun and do something enjoyable. Sand is a loose, granular material that is made up of small pieces of rock and minerals.