Meaning: Water falling from the sky gently landed on the top covering of the building.
Choice of Words: Rain: Water falling from the sky, Fell: Dropped or descended, Soft: Gentle and not rough, Roof: The top covering of a building
Alternative Expressions
The rain fell softly on the roof.
Meaning: This means the same as the first example, but it emphasizes that the rain is falling gently.
Choice of Words:The is a definite article that specifies a particular noun. Rain is a noun that describes the water that falls from the clouds. Fell is a verb that means to drop or move downward. Softly is an adverb that describes how something is done in a gentle or quiet way. On is a preposition that means on top of or in contact with. The is a definite article that specifies a particular noun. Roof is a noun that describes the top covering of a building. When you put them together, "The rain fell softly on the roof" describes the rain falling gently on the top of a building.
Rain was falling softly onto the roof.
Meaning: This means the same as the first two examples, but it emphasizes that the rain was falling in the past.
Choice of Words:Rain is a noun that describes the water that falls from the clouds. Was is a verb that describes a past state of being. Falling is a present participle that describes an ongoing action. Softly is an adverb that describes how something is done in a gentle or quiet way. Onto is a preposition that means to or towards a surface. The is a definite article that specifies a particular noun. Roof is a noun that describes the top covering of a building. When you put them together, "Rain was falling softly onto the roof" describes the rain that was falling gently on the top of a building.