Lightning struck a nearby tree.

Meaning: This sentence describes lightning hitting a tree that is close by.

Choice of Words: Lightning is a bright flash of light in the sky during a storm. Struck means to hit something suddenly and forcefully. A is an article that refers to one of a group of things. Nearby means close to something. Tree is a large plant with a trunk and branches.

Alternative Expressions

The tree was struck by lightning.

Meaning: This sentence means the same thing as the first sentence, but it emphasizes that the tree was the object that was hit by the lightning.

Choice of Words: **The tree** is the object that was hit by the lightning. **Was struck** means that the lightning hit the tree. **By lightning** tells us what hit the tree.

Lightning hit a tree nearby.

Meaning: This sentence means the same thing as the first two sentences, but it emphasizes that the lightning was the thing that did the hitting.

Choice of Words: **Lightning** is the subject of the sentence and it is the thing that did the hitting. **Hit** means that the lightning struck something. **A tree** is the object that was hit by the lightning. **Nearby** tells us where the tree was located.

Related Expressions