When night came, they climbed down.

Meaning: This sentence tells us that when it became dark, the cat and the mouse climbed down from the tree.

Choice of Words: When is a conjunction that indicates a time or occasion. Night is the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise. Came is a verb that means to arrive or to reach a place. They is a pronoun that refers to the cat and the mouse. Climbed is a verb that means to move up or down a surface using hands and feet. Down means to a lower position.

Alternative Expressions

At nightfall, they descended.

Meaning: This sentence has a similar meaning to the first sentence, but it uses different words to describe the same event. It suggests that the group of people moved downwards when it became dark outside.

Choice of Words: Nightfall is the time when the sun goes down and it becomes dark. Descended means to move downwards. When you put them together, "At nightfall, they descended" means that when it became dark outside, they moved to a lower position.

As darkness enveloped the land, they made their way downwards.

Meaning: This sentence is more descriptive than the first two sentences. It provides more details about the setting and the actions of the group of people. It suggests that the group of people moved downwards as the darkness of night spread over the land.

Choice of Words: Darkness is the absence of light. Enveloped means to surround or cover something completely. Land refers to the ground or earth. Made their way means to move or travel somewhere. Downwards means to a lower position or level. When you put them together, "As darkness enveloped the land, they made their way downwards" means that as the darkness of night spread over the land, they moved to a lower position.

Related Expressions