Clouds gather darkly.

Meaning: This means that clouds are accumulating and appearing dark or ominous. It's like saying, The visible mass of water droplets or ice crystals is collecting and appearing menacing.

Choice of Words: Clouds is a plural noun referring to a visible mass of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. Gather is a verb in the third person singular form, meaning to come together or accumulate. Darkly is an adverb that describes the appearance of the clouds.

Alternative Expressions

The clouds are getting thick and dark.

Meaning: This means the same as the first sentence, that the clouds are getting thicker and darker, which often happens before it rains or snows.

Choice of Words: Clouds are the fluffy white things we see in the sky. Getting means becoming or changing into something. Thick means not thin or spread out. Dark means a very dark color, like the night sky. When you put them together, "The clouds are getting thick and dark" means that the clouds are becoming thicker and darker.

The sky is filling up with dark clouds.

Meaning: This means the same as the first two sentences, that the clouds are getting thicker and darker, which often happens before it rains or snows.

Choice of Words: Sky is the big blue thing we see above us. Filling means to become full of something. Up means in a higher position. Dark means a very dark color, like the night sky. Clouds are the fluffy white things we see in the sky. When you put them together, "The sky is filling up with dark clouds" means that the sky is getting full of dark clouds.

Related Expressions