Meaning: The elderly male displayed an expression of satisfaction and happiness.
Choice of Words: "Smiled" is the expression of happiness or pleasure on one's face. "Contentment" is a state of satisfaction or happiness.
Alternative Expressions
The man was happy.
Meaning: This means that the man was feeling good about himself and his life.
Choice of Words:The is an article that refers to a specific thing. Man is a person. Was is a verb that describes a state of being. Happy is an adjective that describes a feeling of joy and contentment. When you put these words together, "The man was happy" means that the man was feeling happy and contented.
The man had a smile on his face.
Meaning: This means that the man was expressing happiness through his facial expression.
Choice of Words:The is an article that refers to a specific thing. Man is a person. Had is a verb that describes a state of possession. Smile is a noun that describes a facial expression that indicates happiness. On is a preposition that describes the position of something. His is a possessive pronoun that refers to something that belongs to the man. Face is a noun that describes the front part of a person's head. When you put these words together, "The man had a smile on his face" means that the man was smiling.