He played football with his friends.

Meaning: He took part in a game played with a ball between two teams of eleven players with people he knows and likes.

Choice of Words: Played is a verb that means to take part in a game or sport. Football is a game played with a ball between two teams of eleven players. Friends are people you know and like and spend time with.

Alternative Expressions

He kicked the ball with his friends.

Meaning: This means that the person referred to as "he" hit a ball with his foot together with people who are his friends. It's like saying, He used his foot to hit a ball with people he knows well.

Choice of Words: He is a pronoun that refers to a person, in this case the subject of the sentence. Kicked is a verb that means to hit something with your foot. Ball is a noun that refers to a round object that is used in games. With is a preposition that shows that the action of kicking is done together with someone. Friends is a noun that refers to people who have a close relationship with each other.

He threw the ball to his friends.

Meaning: This means that the person referred to as "he" sent a ball through the air using his hand to people who are his friends. It's like saying, He used his hand to send a ball through the air to people he knows well.

Choice of Words: He is a pronoun that refers to a person, in this case the subject of the sentence. Threw is a verb that means to send something through the air using your hand. Ball is a noun that refers to a round object that is used in games. To is a preposition that shows the direction of the action of throwing. Friends is a noun that refers to people who have a close relationship with each other.

Related Expressions