The woodpecker's beak pecked at the tree.

Meaning: The woodpecker used its beak to hit the tree repeatedly.

Choice of Words: A beak is a hard, pointed mouthpart found in birds. Pecked means to strike or hit something repeatedly with a pointed object. Tree is a tall woody plant with a trunk and branches.

Alternative Expressions

The woodpecker's beak pecked at the tree.

Meaning: This means that the woodpecker was using its beak to hit the tree.

Choice of Words: Woodpecker is a type of bird with a long, sharp beak that it uses to peck at trees. Beak is the name for a bird's mouth. Pecked means to hit something with a sharp object, like a beak. At means in the direction of. Tree is a tall plant with a trunk and branches.

The woodpecker tapped its beak on the tree.

Meaning: This means the same thing as the first sentence.

Choice of Words: Tapped is another word for pecked. On means in contact with the surface of something. So, tapped its beak on the tree means that the woodpecker was hitting its beak against the tree.

The woodpecker used its beak to make holes in the tree.

Meaning: This means that the woodpecker was pecking at the tree in order to make holes in it.

Choice of Words: Used means to employ something for a purpose. Holes are openings in a surface. So, used its beak to make holes in the tree means that the woodpecker was using its beak to create openings in the tree.

Related Expressions