Meaning: The clouds were gathering and it looked like it was going to rain.
Choice of Words: Clouds gathered means clouds came together. Rain loomed means rain was likely to happen.
Alternative Expressions
The clouds were getting together, and it looked like it was going to rain.
Meaning: This means the same as the first sentence.
Choice of Words: **Were getting together** means that the clouds were coming together in one place. **It looked like** means that it seemed like something was going to happen. **Rain** is the water that falls from the clouds. When you put these words together, you get a picture of clouds coming together and rain looking like it's about to fall.
The sky was getting dark and cloudy, and it looked like it was going to rain.
Meaning: This means the same as the first two sentences.
Choice of Words: **Sky** is the space above the Earth. **Dark** means that there is not much light. **Cloudy** means that there are clouds in the sky. **Rain** is the water that falls from the clouds. When you put these words together, you get a picture of the sky getting dark and cloudy and rain looking like it's about to fall.