The teacher told us to be quiet.

Meaning: This sentence is about a teacher asking their students to not make any noise.

Choice of Words: Teacher is a person whose job is to teach, usually in a school. "Told" is the past tense of the verb "to tell", which means to say something to someone. "Quiet" means making no noise.

Alternative Expressions

The teacher asked us to keep our voices down.

Meaning: This means that the teacher asked the students to stop talking loudly or to speak more softly. It's like saying, Please speak more softly or quietly.

Choice of Words: Teacher is a person who teaches students in a school or classroom. Asked means to request or inquire about something. Us refers to the people who are listening or being spoken to, which in this case is the students in the classroom. Keep means to hold or maintain something in a particular state or position. Voices refers to the sounds produced by speaking. Down means to make or become lower in volume or intensity. When you put them together, "The teacher asked us to keep our voices down" means that the teacher requested the students to speak more softly or quietly.

The teacher instructed us to maintain silence.

Meaning: This means that the teacher asked the students to be completely quiet and not make any noise. It's like saying, Please be completely quiet and don't make any noise.

Choice of Words: Teacher is a person who teaches students in a school or classroom. Instructed means to give directions or orders to someone. Us refers to the people who are listening or being spoken to, which in this case is the students in the classroom. Maintain means to keep or continue something in a particular state or condition. Silence means the absence of sound or noise. When you put them together, "The teacher instructed us to maintain silence" means that the teacher told the students to remain quiet and not make any noise.

Related Expressions