Time passed quickly as they played.

Meaning: This sentence describes how the children's playtime seemed to go by very fast while they were having fun.

Choice of Words: Time refers to the progression of events. Passed means it moved forward. Quickly means it moved rapidly. As indicates a simultaneous occurrence, and they refers to the children.

Alternative Expressions

The time went by fast while they were playing.

Meaning: This sentence means the same as the first sentence. It is just a different way of saying it.

Choice of Words: Time is a noun that refers to the continuous progression of existence and events that occur in an apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future. Went is a verb that means to move or go from one place to another. By is a preposition that is used to indicate the location of something in relation to something else. Fast is an adverb that means at a rapid pace or in a short amount of time. While is a conjunction that is used to connect two clauses or phrases. They is a pronoun that refers to a group of people or things that have been previously mentioned or are known to the speaker and listener. Were playing is a verb phrase that means to engage in an activity for enjoyment or recreation.

It seemed like no time at all as they played.

Meaning: This sentence means that the people were so engrossed in their play that they did not notice how quickly the time was passing.

Choice of Words: It is a pronoun that refers to something that has been previously mentioned or is known to the speaker and listener. Seemed is a verb that means to appear or give the impression of being something. Like is a preposition that is used to compare two things. No time at all is an idiom that means a very short period of time. As is a conjunction that is used to connect two clauses or phrases. They is a pronoun that refers to a group of people or things that have been previously mentioned or are known to the speaker and listener. Played is a verb that means to engage in an activity for enjoyment or recreation.

Related Expressions