change、alter、vary、convert、modify、transform与turn这些动词均含有“变化、改变”之意。
change : 指任何变化,完全改变,强调与原先的情况有明显的不同。
- Rick hasn't changed. He looks exactly the same as he did at school.
里克一点儿没变,他和上学时一模一样。 - changing attitudes towards education
不断变化的对教育的看法 - Her life changed completely when she won the lottery.
买彩票中奖后她的生活完全变了。
alter : 常指轻微的改变,强调基本上保持原物、原状的情况下所进行的部分改变。
- Prices did not alter significantly during 2004.
2004年期间,价格没有大的变化。 - He had altered so much I scarcely recognized him.
他变得我几乎认不出来了。
vary : 暗示不规则或断断续续地变。
- The job enables me to vary the hours I work.
这项工作使我能够调整工作时间。
convert : 指进行全部或局部改变以适应新的功能或用途。指信仰或态度时,强调较激烈、大的改变。
- Could we convert the small bedroom into a second bathroom?
我们能把这间小卧室改建成第二间浴室吗? - What's the formula for converting pounds into kilograms?
把磅换算成公斤的公式是什么?
modify : 强调起限定作用的变化或变更。指细小的变化,常含“缓和、降调”的意味。
- Instead of simply punishing them, the system encourages offenders to modify their behaviour.
这个制度并不是单单惩罚犯罪者,而是鼓励他们改正自己的行为。 - The proposals were unpopular and were only accepted in a modified form.
这些建议不受欢迎,修改之后才得以接受。
transform : 指人或物在形状、外观、形式、性质等方面发生的彻底变化,失去原状成为全新的东西。
- the power of art to transform experience
彻底改变体验的艺术力量 - The reorganization will transform the entertainment industry.
这次重组将使娱乐业大为改观。
turn : 指外形、颜色、气味、性质等方面的变化,比change更通俗。
- The weather has suddenly turned cold.
天气突然变凉了。 - When I refused to pay, he turned nasty.
当我拒绝付钱时,他的态度变得很恶劣。 - She turned pale and started to shiver.
她的脸色变得苍白,身子开始颤抖。 - The mood of the meeting turned solemn when the extent of the problem became known.
当问题的严重程度披露后,会议的气氛开始变得严肃起来。