His eyes rolled toward me.
When his eyes rolled toward me, he tried to speak, but I heard only a soft grunt.(from a book)

Do you say 'when his eyes rolled toward me' or ' when he rolled his eyes toward me'?
Which one is more common?
Do they mean the same?
Don't you think it's kind of odd to say ' his eyes rolled toward me'?

Question

His eyes rolled toward me.
When his eyes rolled toward me, he tried to speak, but I heard only a soft grunt.(from a book)

Do you say 'when his eyes rolled toward me' or ' when he rolled his eyes toward me'?
Which one is more common?
Do they mean the same?
Don't you think it's kind of odd to say ' his eyes rolled toward me'?

Answer

very concise and clear.
Thanks, Niall.

Answer

It’s possible to say it either way, but there’s a subtle difference between the two. ‘His eyes rolled toward me’ places emphasis on the eyes and may even (but not necessarily) imply an involuntary action. ‘He rolled his eyes toward me’ places emphasis on the character to whom the eyes belong and the action that he has deliberately performed. It’s just a matter of literary effect. Neither is wrong.