Coral reefs teem with sea life.

Meaning: This sentence describes ridges of rock or coral that lie just below the surface of the water being full of or swarming with organisms that exist in a large body of salt water.

Choice of Words: Coral is a type of marine invertebrate that forms hard skeletons. Reefs are ridges of rock or coral that lie just below the surface of the water. Teem is a verb that means to be full of or swarming with something. With is a preposition that means together with or in the company of. Sea is a large body of salt water. Life is the existence of an organism.

Alternative Expressions

Coral reefs are very crowded with sea creatures.

Meaning: This sentence is saying that there are lots of different types of sea creatures living in and around coral reefs.

Choice of Words: Teem means to be crowded or filled with something. Sea life means all the living things that live in the ocean. Coral reefs are large structures in the ocean made from the skeletons of tiny animals called coral. When we put these words together, we get a sentence that means coral reefs are very crowded with sea creatures.

Coral reefs are like underwater cities full of sea creatures.

Meaning: This sentence is saying that coral reefs are like busy underwater cities because there are so many different types of sea creatures living in and around them.

Choice of Words: Teem means to be crowded or filled with something. Sea life means all the living things that live in the ocean. Coral reefs are large structures in the ocean made from the skeletons of tiny animals called coral. Cities are places where lots of people live. When we put these words together, we get a sentence that means coral reefs are like underwater cities that are full of sea creatures.

Coral reefs are bustling with sea creatures.

Meaning: This sentence is saying that coral reefs are very busy and active places because there are so many different types of sea creatures living in and around them.

Choice of Words: Teem means to be crowded or filled with something. Sea life means all the living things that live in the ocean. Coral reefs are large structures in the ocean made from the skeletons of tiny animals called coral. Bustling means full of activity and noise. When we put these words together, we get a sentence that means coral reefs are full of activity and noise because there are so many sea creatures living in and around them.

Related Expressions