He read a book before bed.

Meaning: This means to look at and understand the words and stories in a book, typically done before going to sleep.

Choice of Words: Read means to look at and understand written or printed words. Book is a set of written or printed pages fastened together into a cover. Bed is a piece of furniture that is used for sleeping.

Alternative Expressions

The boy read a storybook before bedtime.

Meaning: This sentence describes an action that a young male child performed. It means that the boy looked at and understood written or printed material before going to sleep.

Choice of Words: The boy is the subject of the sentence, and it refers to a young male child. Read is a verb that means to look at and understand written or printed material. A is an indefinite article that indicates one of something. Storybook is a noun that refers to a book that contains stories. Before is a preposition that indicates that something happened earlier than something else. Bedtime is a noun that refers to the time when someone goes to sleep.

The young reader enjoyed a captivating novel prior to retiring for the evening.

Meaning: This sentence describes an action that a young person who enjoys reading performed. It means that the young person found pleasure in reading a very interesting and engaging book before going to bed.

Choice of Words: The young reader is the subject of the sentence, and it refers to a person who is young and enjoys reading. Enjoyed is a verb that means to find pleasure in something. A is an indefinite article that indicates one of something. Captivating novel is a noun that refers to a book that is very interesting and engaging. Prior to is a preposition that indicates that something happened earlier than something else. Retiring for the evening is a verb phrase that means to go to bed.

Related Expressions