Change A Light Bulb
probably, one of the most common phrases related to change in English. If the light does not work (an electric light) in your overhead light or lamp (desk lamp or wall lamp) then you need to replace it with a new one. We change a light bulb.
Change A Nappy
Anyone with children will know all about this. Young children are not toilet trained (they do not know how to use the toilet) and therefore we constantly need to keep them clean and dry particularly after feeding them.
Old fashioned nappies when my children were young were made of cloth or towelling so not only did you change them but you also had to wash them (yes, I know!!).
However, today we use Pampers or Huggies or some other brand of disposable nappies that once used and disposed of can be replaced with a clean one. So we change a nappy.
Change Your Mind
Once you have decided on something you might decide on another action and this is known as changing your mind, changing from an earlier decision to another action or event.
Change Jobs
We all change our workplace several times during our working life. Some people more than others until they find their dream job. So when you move from one employer to another you change jobs.
Change Clothes
We have different outfits that we like to wear on different occasions. We wear work clothes for work, training clothes for going to the gym and casual clothes when relaxing. I will change my clothes and be with you in a minute.
Change A Wheel / A Tyre
When you are driving a car and you get a puncture (there is no air in your tyre) you have to stop and change the wheel.
All cars have a spare wheel in the boot and this is used to replace the punctured or damaged wheel.
If the tyre is ripped (cut) then you may need to buy a new tyre and the garage will change it for you.
Other words to say change
To Alter
We alter clothes that are too long or not wide enough. We go to a tailor and they alter (adjust) to fit us better.
I bought a new suit. The trousers were too long. The man in the shop measured them and promised to alter them in 2 days.
To Adapt
When we move to a new country or change jobs we have to adjust how we work or how we communicate. We adapt to our new surroundings. We get used to a new way of life.
I moved to Germany and it took me a while to adapt to the new lifestyle.
To Convert
Also means to change.
Often if someone changes their religion they are said to convert to another religion. Protestant to Catholic or Catholic to Buddhism.
We can convert currency.
He converted his euros to dollars in time for his holiday or exchanged euros for dollars.
To Shift
Also means to change. We can change or shift our position. Sitting in one position for a long time you become stiff or tired so you shift your position to become more comfortable.
You will normally shift your position on the chair from time to time.
To Vary
Another verb for to change. To vary is to change something you do.
For example,
- to vary (change) your diet to introduce more fibre, less fat or sugar
- to vary the journey to go to work if there is more than one way to go
I varied my journey to work so as to avoid boredom.
To Transform
to change something or somebody into something else and usually make it better
They transformed the old school building into a four-bedroom, modern home.
To Modify
to partially change the form or qualities of, to alter something
The data was modified by another user while I was working on this file.
Other expressions related to CHANGE
Have you any loose change? I need some money for bus fare.
Loose change is usually small coins 10c, 20c,50c etc
They can be a nuisance when you have too many but always useful for the parking meter or a tram or bus fare.
Can you change this, please?
Usually, an expression you use when you need some notes smaller than say a €50 or €100 note.
John went into the shop to buy a coffee. The coffee cost €3.50 All he had in his pocket was a €50 note. He asked the waiter if he could change a fifty euro note. The waiter was not very pleased.
And not to forget to mention Winds of Change – forces (forces of nature, or other forces) that have the power to change things or events — used generally to mean change is going to happen.
