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Is this sentence correct:"He sat down on the sand, and contemplated the sea which lit by action of the sun rays over it."Note: By 'contemplate', I mean to watch with amazement.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Christine ChristieNote: By 'contemplate', I mean to watch with amazement.

I'm not familiar with that usage of 'contemplate'. The closest meaning I'm familiar with is to look at something thoughtfully for a long time. It has nothing to do with amazement. It's more like meditation. And besides, this meaning is literary, so it's not generally used in ordinary conversations or writing.

Christine ChristieHe sat down on the sand [no comma] and contemplated the sea, which was lit by action of the sun's rays ~~over it~~.

I've corrected the basics above, but the sentence needs to be revised. It begins like a piece of poetry (contemplated the sea), but it continues a little like a physics textbook (lit the action of the sun's rays). 'by action of' is really quite rarely used outside of writings on science or politics.

Maybe something like this if you want something more poetic:

He sat on the sand contemplating the sparkling sea.

Or, if you want to go the scientific route:

A sparkling effect is created by action of sunlight on the waves of the sea.

CJ

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