Meaning: They made a sound of amusement at the joke.
Choice of Words: The word laughed means the action of making a sound of amusement.
Alternative Expressions
The silly joke made them laugh.
Meaning: This sentence describes a situation where a joke caused someone to find it funny and express their amusement by laughing.
Choice of Words:Silly is an adjective that means not serious or sensible. Joke is a noun that refers to something said or done to make people laugh. Made is a verb that means to cause something to happen or exist. Laugh is a verb that describes the act of making sounds and expressions that show you find something funny. When you put them together, "The silly joke made them laugh" means that the joke caused someone to find it funny and express their amusement by laughing.
They couldn't help but laugh at the silly joke.
Meaning: This sentence describes a situation where someone found a joke so funny that they couldn't control their laughter.
Choice of Words:Couldn't is a modal verb that expresses inability or lack of power. Help is a verb that means to give assistance or support. But is a conjunction that is used to connect two contrasting ideas. Laugh is a verb that describes the act of making sounds and expressions that show you find something funny. At is a preposition that means in the direction or position of something. Silly is an adjective that means not serious or sensible. Joke is a noun that refers to something said or done to make people laugh. When you put them together, "They couldn't help but laugh at the silly joke" means that someone found the joke so funny that they couldn't control their laughter.