Grandparents smiled.

Meaning: This sentence means that the older people in the family were happy to see everyone gathered together.

Choice of Words: Grandparents are the parents of your parents. Smiled means to show happiness by turning up the corners of your mouth.

Alternative Expressions

The grandparents were smiling.

Meaning: This means that the person's grandparents were happy or amused.

Choice of Words: The is a definite article that refers to a specific noun. Grandparents is a plural noun that refers to a person's parents' parents. Were is a verb that indicates the past tense of the verb smile. Smiling is a verb that means to make a facial expression that shows happiness or amusement. When you put them together, "The grandparents were smiling" means that the person's grandparents were making facial expressions that showed happiness or amusement.

The grandparents had smiles on their faces.

Meaning: This means that the person's grandparents were happy or amused.

Choice of Words: The is a definite article that refers to a specific noun. Grandparents is a plural noun that refers to a person's parents' parents. Had is a verb that indicates the past tense of the verb have. Smiles is a plural noun that refers to facial expressions that show happiness or amusement. On is a preposition that means in contact with. Their is a possessive pronoun that refers to the grandparents. Faces is a plural noun that refers to the front of a person's head. When you put them together, "The grandparents had smiles on their faces" means that the person's grandparents were making facial expressions that showed happiness or amusement.

Related Expressions