Her cat, Mittens, would often curl up on her lap.

Meaning: The old woman's cat, Mittens, would often make itself small and round on her body from her waist to her knees when she was sitting down.

Choice of Words: Cat is a small, furry animal that is often kept as a pet. Mittens is a common name for cats. Curl up means to make oneself small and round. Lap is the part of your body from your waist to your knees when you are sitting down.

Alternative Expressions

Mittens, the cat, often curled up on her lap.

Meaning: This means that the cat named Mittens liked to make itself into a small, round shape and rest on the person's lap. It's like saying, Mittens liked to sleep on her owner's lap.

Choice of Words: Mittens is the name of the cat. The indicates that we are talking about a specific cat. Cat tells us what kind of animal Mittens is. Often means that it happened many times. Curled up describes the way the cat made its body into a small, round shape. On her lap indicates the location where the cat curled up.

The cat named Mittens would often curl up in her lap.

Meaning: This means that the cat named Mittens liked to make itself into a small, round shape and rest on the person's lap. It's like saying, Mittens liked to sleep on her owner's lap.

Choice of Words: The indicates that we are talking about a specific cat. Cat tells us what kind of animal Mittens is. Named indicates that Mittens has a name. Mittens is the name of the cat. Would shows that the action of curling up happened regularly. Often means that it happened many times. Curl up describes the way the cat made its body into a small, round shape. In her lap indicates the location where the cat curled up.

Related Expressions