The tall woman spoke softly to the child.

Meaning: The tall woman was making quiet or gentle sounds with her mouth to communicate with the child.

Choice of Words: Spoke means to make sounds with your mouth to communicate with someone. Softly means in a quiet or gentle manner, not loudly. When you put them together, "Spoke softly" means the tall woman was making quiet or gentle sounds with her mouth to communicate with the child.

Alternative Expressions

The woman was tall, and she spoke softly to the child.

Meaning: This means the woman who was tall, talked to the child in a quiet voice.

Choice of Words: Was is used to describe a state of being. Tall describes the woman's height. Spoke means she used her voice to talk. Softly tells us she talked in a quiet voice. To shows that the woman was talking directly to the child.

With her height, the woman spoke gently to the child.

Meaning: This means the tall woman talked to the child in a kind and caring way.

Choice of Words: With shows a connection between the woman's height and her speaking. Height describes the woman's tallness. Spoke means she used her voice to talk. Gently tells us she talked in a kind and caring way. To shows that the woman was talking directly to the child.

Related Expressions