They make nests out of pebbles and rocks.

Meaning: Penguins build their homes, called nests, using small stones and rocks.

Choice of Words: Nest is a structure that a bird builds to lay its eggs in. Pebbles are small, smooth stones. Rocks are hard, solid pieces of mineral matter.

Alternative Expressions

The birds construct nests using pebbles and rocks.

Meaning: This sentence describes how birds build their nests using pebbles and rocks, using more formal language.

Choice of Words: The birds is a more specific subject than they, as it clarifies that the sentence is about birds. Construct is a more formal verb that means to build or create something. Nests still refers to the structures that birds build to lay their eggs and raise their young. Using means that the pebbles and rocks are the materials that the birds use to build their nests.

Birds create their nests from pebbles and rocks.

Meaning: This sentence describes how birds build their nests using pebbles and rocks, using a different verb and emphasizing that the nests belong to the birds.

Choice of Words: Birds is the subject of the sentence, as in the previous examples. Create is another verb that means to build or make something. Their nests clarifies that the nests belong to the birds. From means that the pebbles and rocks are the materials that the birds use to build their nests.

Related Expressions