He read a book yesterday.

Meaning: He looked at and understood written or printed words in a set of written or printed pages that are bound together the day before today.

Choice of Words: Read: To look at and understand written or printed words. Book: A set of written or printed pages that are bound together. Yesterday: The day before today.

Alternative Expressions

The boy read a book yesterday.

Meaning: This means that a specific male child looked at and understood the written words in a book on the day before today.

Choice of Words: The boy is a noun phrase that refers to a specific male child. Read is a verb that means to look at and understand the written words in a book. A is an indefinite article that indicates any book. Book is a noun that refers to a written or printed work consisting of pages bound together. Yesterday is an adverb that refers to the day before today.

John read a book yesterday.

Meaning: This means that a specific male person named John looked at and understood the written words in a book on the day before today.

Choice of Words: John is a proper noun that refers to a specific male person. Read is a verb that means to look at and understand the written words in a book. A is an indefinite article that indicates any book. Book is a noun that refers to a written or printed work consisting of pages bound together. Yesterday is an adverb that refers to the day before today.

Related Expressions