She saw a little boy playing with a doll.

Meaning: She noticed a little boy playing with a doll.

Choice of Words: Saw means to perceive something with your eyes. Playing means engaging in an activity for enjoyment or recreation.

Alternative Expressions

A small boy was observed by her playing with a doll.

Meaning: This means that a young male child was noticed by a girl using a toy that is typically associated with girls.

Choice of Words: A is an indefinite article that indicates one of something. Small is an adjective that describes the size of the boy. Boy is a noun that refers to a male child. Was is a verb that indicates the past tense of the action. Observed is a verb that means to notice or watch something. By is a preposition that indicates the relationship between the observer and the boy. Her is a personal pronoun that refers to the subject of the sentence, which is the one performing the action. Playing is a verb that means to engage in an activity for enjoyment. With is a preposition that indicates the relationship between the boy and the doll. A is an indefinite article that indicates one of something. Doll is a noun that refers to a toy that typically represents a human figure.

There was a little boy who was seen playing with a doll.

Meaning: This means that a young male child was noticed by someone using a toy that is typically associated with girls.

Choice of Words: There is an existential quantifier that indicates the presence of something. Was is a verb that indicates the past tense of the action. A is an indefinite article that indicates one of something. Little is an adjective that describes the size of the boy. Boy is a noun that refers to a male child. Who is a relative pronoun that introduces a subordinate clause. Was is a verb that indicates the past tense of the action. Seen is a verb that means to use your eyes to notice something. Playing is a verb that means to engage in an activity for enjoyment. With is a preposition that indicates the relationship between the boy and the doll. A is an indefinite article that indicates one of something. Doll is a noun that refers to a toy that typically represents a human figure.

Related Expressions