The man opened the door and stepped inside the house.

Meaning: The man moved the hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to the building in order to move his foot forward and put it down on the ground within or in the interior of the building.

Choice of Words: Opened is the past tense of the verb open, which means to move something so that there is a space or gap. Door is a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle. Stepped is the past tense of the verb step, which means to move your foot forward and put it down on the ground. Inside means within or in the interior of something. House is a building in which people live.

Alternative Expressions

The man unlocked the door and entered the house.

Meaning: This sentence describes a man who unlocked a door and walked into a house. It tells us that the man was outside the house and then he entered the house by unlocking the door.

Choice of Words: The man is a noun that refers to a male human being. Unlocked is a verb that means to open something, like a door, by removing a lock. The door is a noun that refers to a movable barrier that closes an opening in a wall or fence. And is a conjunction that connects two words, phrases, or clauses. Entered is a verb that means to go into a place. The house is a noun that refers to a building where people live.

The man pushed open the door and walked into the house.

Meaning: This sentence describes a man who pushed open a door and walked into a house. It tells us that the man was outside the house and then he entered the house by pushing open the door.

Choice of Words: The man is a noun that refers to a male human being. Pushed open is a verb that means to use force to move something, like a door, so that it is no longer closed. The door is a noun that refers to a movable barrier that closes an opening in a wall or fence. And is a conjunction that connects two words, phrases, or clauses. Walked is a verb that means to move by putting one foot in front of the other. Into is a preposition that means within the bounds of something. The house is a noun that refers to a building where people live.

Related Expressions