They talked long into the night.

Meaning: This means people kept speaking to each other for a long time after the sun went down.

Choice of Words: Talked is a simple past tense verb that describes the action of speaking. Long is an adjective that means for a period of time that seems lengthy. Into is a preposition that describes moving or entering a place or state. Night is a noun that refers to the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise. Putting them together, this sentence describes people speaking for a long time after sunset.

Alternative Expressions

They chatted until the late hours.

Meaning: This means that the group of people were having a conversation that lasted for a long time, even after it got dark.

Choice of Words: They is a pronoun used to refer to a group of people. Chatted is a verb that means to have a casual conversation. Until is a conjunction that means up to a particular time or point. The is a definite article that refers to a specific thing. Late is an adjective that means at a time that is later than usual. Hours is a noun that refers to a period of time. When you put them together, "They chatted until the late hours" means that a group of people had a casual conversation that lasted until late at night.

Their conversation stretched deep into the night.

Meaning: This means that the group of people were having a conversation that lasted for a long time, even after it got dark.

Choice of Words: Their is a possessive pronoun that refers to something belonging to a group of people. Conversation is a noun that refers to a discussion or talk. Stretched is a verb that means to extend or make something longer. Deep is an adjective that means far into something. Into is a preposition that means to move or go in a particular direction or place. The is a definite article that refers to a specific thing. Night is a noun that refers to the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise. When you put them together, "Their conversation stretched deep into the night" means that a group of people had a discussion or talk that lasted for a long time, even after it got dark.

Related Expressions