Seagulls circled patiently above fishing boats.

Meaning: The seagulls were flying in circles above the fishing boats, waiting calmly for scraps of fish.

Choice of Words: Circled means to move in a circle. Patiently means to wait calmly and without complaining. When you put them together, you see seagulls flying in circles above the boats, waiting for scraps of fish.

Alternative Expressions

The seagulls flew in circles, waiting patiently above the fishing boats.

Meaning: This sentence also tells us that there were seagulls flying in circles, staying high up in the sky, and waiting without getting impatient, above boats that were out fishing.

Choice of Words: Flew is a verb that describes the movement of the seagulls, and in circles tells us that they were flying around and around. Waiting means that they stayed in the same place, and patiently tells us that they did not get upset or impatient while they waited. Above shows that they were higher up in the sky, and fishing boats are the type of boats that they were flying around.

Above the fishing boats, seagulls circled patiently in the sky.

Meaning: This sentence tells us that there were seagulls flying in circles, staying high up in the sky, and waiting without getting impatient, above boats that were out fishing.

Choice of Words: Above shows that the seagulls were higher up in the sky than the fishing boats. Fishing boats are the type of boats that the seagulls were flying around. Seagulls are the type of birds that are mentioned. Circled means that they flew in circles, going around and around. Patiently tells us that they waited without getting upset or impatient, and in the sky tells us where they were flying.

Related Expressions