Dog barks at stranger near house.

Meaning: A domesticated carnivorous mammal makes a short, sharp cry at a person who is not known or familiar close to a building where people live.

Choice of Words: Dog is a domesticated carnivorous mammal. Barks means to make a short, sharp cry. Stranger is a person who is not known or familiar. Near means close to.

Alternative Expressions

Canine vocalizes at unfamiliar individual in proximity to residence.

Meaning: This sentence describes the same situation as the first sentence, but it uses more formal language. It suggests that the dog is making a noise to communicate with a person who is not known to the dog and is close to the dog's home.

Choice of Words: Canine is a formal word for dog. Vocalizes is a verb that means to make a sound with your voice. Unfamiliar is an adjective that means not known or recognized. Individual is a noun that refers to a person. Proximity is a noun that means nearness. Residence is a noun that refers to a place where someone lives.

The pooch is yapping at the mysterious person who is hanging around outside the house.

Meaning: This sentence describes the same situation as the first two sentences, but it uses more informal language. It suggests that the dog is making a high-pitched barking sound at a person who is not known to the dog and is staying outside the dog's home for a long time.

Choice of Words: Pooch is an informal word for dog. Yapping is a verb that describes the high-pitched barking sound that some dogs make. Mysterious is an adjective that means strange or unknown. Person is a noun that refers to a human being. Hanging around is a verb phrase that means to stay in a place for a long time without doing anything. Outside is a preposition that means on the exterior of something. House is a noun that refers to a building where people live.

Related Expressions