Pirates searched for the treasure.

Meaning: This sentence tells us that the pirates were looking for the treasure.

Choice of Words: Pirates are people who attack and rob ships at sea. Searched means to look for something carefully and thoroughly. For is used to show the purpose of an action or the object of a search. The is used before a noun to refer to a specific thing.

Alternative Expressions

The pirates looked for the treasure.

Meaning: This means that a particular group of pirates were trying to find a collection of valuable things, like gold and jewels.

Choice of Words: The is used to specify that we are talking about a particular group of pirates. Pirates are people who travel on the sea and often steal things. Looked means to try to see or find something. Treasure is a collection of valuable things, like gold and jewels. When you put them together, "The pirates looked for the treasure" means that a particular group of pirates were trying to find a collection of valuable things.

The pirates were searching for the treasure.

Meaning: This means that a particular group of pirates were actively looking for a collection of valuable things, like gold and jewels.

Choice of Words: The is used to specify that we are talking about a particular group of pirates. Pirates are people who travel on the sea and often steal things. Were searching means that they were actively looking for something. Treasure is a collection of valuable things, like gold and jewels. When you put them together, "The pirates were searching for the treasure" means that a particular group of pirates were actively looking for a collection of valuable things.

Related Expressions