Children listen intently.

Meaning: The students are paying close attention to the story.

Choice of Words: Children are young people. Listen means to pay attention to what someone is saying. Intently means with great attention and concentration.

Alternative Expressions

The children are all ears.

Meaning: This means the children are paying very close attention to what someone is saying. It's like saying, The children are listening very carefully.

Choice of Words: The children refers to the group of young people in the story. Are is a verb that means to exist or to be in a certain state. All ears is a phrase that means to be paying very close attention to something. When you put them together, "The children are all ears" describes a group of young people who are paying very close attention to something.

The children hang on every word.

Meaning: This means the children are paying very close attention to what someone is saying. It's like saying, The children are listening very carefully to every word the teacher is saying.

Choice of Words: The children refers to the group of young people in the story. Hang means to attach something to something else. On means to be in a position of contact with something. Every word means each and every word that is spoken. When you put them together, "The children hang on every word" describes a group of young people who are paying very close attention to what someone is saying.

Related Expressions