altered

altered — adjective

1. Something that has been changed so that it is no longer exactly the same as befo

1.形容詞B1
釋義

Something that has been changed so that it is no longer exactly the same as before — for example, a document with corrections, a recipe with different ingredients, or a view that looks different over time.

例句

Elena studied the altered contract carefully before she agreed to sign it.

altered + noun — modified document after revision

When Kwame returned to his village, the altered landscape made him feel lost.

altered + noun — visible environmental change over time

同義詞
  • changed

    More general — 'changed' can describe any difference while 'altered' often suggests a deliberate or noticeable modification

  • modified

    Suggests intentional improvements or structural adjustments, particularly to documents, objects, or systems

  • adjusted

    Implies small fine-tuning to achieve correct position, fit, or amount rather than a broad transformation

反義詞
  • unchanged

    Still exactly as it was; no modification has taken place

  • preserved

    Kept deliberately in its original condition so that nothing is altered

文法句型

altered + noun

be + altered

adverb + altered

用法筆記

Often used with adverbs of degree (greatly, slightly, fundamentally, completely) to show how much something has changed. Commonly appears as a past-participle adjective before a noun or after a linking verb.

常見錯誤

❌She altered her hairstyle completely different.
✅She completely altered her hairstyle.
💡'alter' already contains the idea of change; do not add 'different' as a redundant complement.
❌The plan is altered to include new ideas.
✅The altered plan now includes new ideas.
💡When used as an adjective before a noun, 'altered' modifies the noun directly; avoid using it as a bare past participle without context.

2. Describes an animal that has received a medical operation to remove its ability

2.形容詞B2
釋義

Describes an animal that has received a medical operation to remove its ability to produce young, usually to control the pet population, prevent health problems, or improve behaviour.

例句

The animal shelter will only adopt out altered cats to prevent unwanted litters.

collocation: altered cats / altered dogs — common in shelter contexts

Dr. Chen recommended getting the puppy altered before it turned six months old.

get + object + altered (causative construction)

同義詞
  • neutered

    Everyday term, especially for male animals; 'altered' sounds more clinical or formal

  • spayed

    Specifically for female animals only; 'altered' covers both sexes

  • sterilised

    Broader term that works for any living thing or object; 'altered' is animal-specific

反義詞
  • intact

    Veterinary term for an animal that has not been sterilised

文法句型

get + animal + altered

altered + noun (animal type)

用法筆記

Primarily used in veterinary, shelter, and municipal licensing contexts. The causative pattern 'get/have + animal + altered' is very common in advice. Only applies to non-human animals.

常見錯誤

❌We need to altered our cat before summer.
✅We need to get our cat altered before summer.
💡'altered' in this sense is an adjective or past participle; you need 'get' or 'have' as the main verb.
❌The altered man could not have children.
✅The man was unable to have children.
💡This sense of 'altered' is only used for animals, not for people.