Shells glistened in the sand, reflecting the setting sun.

Meaning: The hard outer coverings of certain marine animals sparkled on the loose, granular material beside the sea, throwing back the light from the star in the center of our solar system as it moved down.

Choice of Words: Shells are the hard outer coverings of certain marine animals, such as mollusks. Glistened means to shine or sparkle with reflected light. Sand is a loose, granular material consisting of small rock and mineral particles. Reflecting means to throw back light, heat, or sound without absorbing it. Setting means the act of placing something in a particular position or location. Sun is the star at the center of our solar system.

Alternative Expressions

The shiny shells sparkled on the beach, throwing back the light of the setting sun.

Meaning: This sentence describes how the shells on the beach were shining and sparkling, and how they were reflecting the light from the setting sun.

Choice of Words: Shiny means reflecting light, like a mirror. Sparkled means to shine with many small flashes of light. On the beach means located on the sandy area next to a body of water. Throwing back means to return something in the direction it came from. Light is what allows us to see, and setting sun refers to the sun as it sinks below the horizon.

The shells on the beach shone brightly, reflecting the golden rays of the setting sun.

Meaning: This sentence describes how the shells on the beach were shining brightly, and how they were reflecting the light from the setting sun.

Choice of Words: Shells are hard outer coverings of certain animals, like clams or snails. On the beach means located on the sandy area next to a body of water. Shone means to emit light, and brightly means with a lot of light. Reflecting means to bounce light or heat back in the direction it came from. Golden rays refers to the warm, yellow-orange light of the sun, and setting sun refers to the sun as it sinks below the horizon.

Related Expressions