Meaning: Lightning is shining suddenly and brightly for a short time across the sky.
Choice of Words: Flashes: shines suddenly and brightly for a short time. Across: from one side to the other.
Alternative Expressions
The lightning bolts shoot through the clouds.
Meaning: This sentence is describing how lightning bolts are moving quickly through the clouds during a thunderstorm.
Choice of Words: **Lightning bolts** are the bright lines of electricity that we see during a thunderstorm. **Shoot** means to move quickly and suddenly. **Through** means to go from one side of something to the other. **The clouds** are the white fluffy things in the sky that can make rain, snow, or hail.
The thunder rumbles in the distance.
Meaning: This sentence is describing how thunder is happening far away from where you are.
Choice of Words: **Thunder** is the loud noise that happens after lightning. **Rumbles** means to make a low, deep sound. **In the distance** means far away from where you are.