alteration

alteration — 名詞

1. a small change made to the way something looks, works, or is organised

1.名詞B2
釋義

修改

外觀、結構或功能的小幅改變

a small change made to the way something looks, works, or is organised

例句

The architect suggested a few alterations to the kitchen layout before construction began.

建築師在施工開始前建議對廚房格局進行幾處修改。

alteration + to + noun (what is changed)

Mei noticed a slight alteration in her grandfather's speech after the hospital visit.

Mei 注意到祖父去醫院後，說話方式有了一些細微的改變。

alteration + in + noun (area of change)

同義詞
  • change

    broader; any difference, not necessarily small

  • modification

    slightly more formal; implies adjusting rather than replacing

  • adjustment

    small correction for better fit or function

反義詞
  • preservation

    keeping something the same rather than changing it

文法句型

alteration + to + noun

alteration + in + noun

make an alteration to

用法筆記

Often followed by 'to' when specifying the thing that is changed. Can be countable (a few alterations) or uncountable (alteration of the landscape).

常見錯誤

❌I made an alteration on the schedule.
✅I made an alteration to the schedule.
💡Use 'to', not 'on', when specifying what is changed.

2. a change made to the size or shape of a piece of clothing so that it fits the pe

2.名詞B1
釋義

改尺寸

調整衣服尺寸使合身

a change made to the size or shape of a piece of clothing so that it fits the person wearing it better

例句

The tailor finished the alterations on Diego's suit just before the wedding ceremony.

裁縫在婚禮前及時完成了 Diego 西裝的修改。

alterations on + possessive + garment

Nadia took her dress to a shop for alterations to the sleeves.

Nadia 把洋裝拿去店裡修改袖子。

同義詞
  • resizing

    more technical; focuses on changing dimensions

  • adjustment

    broader; can apply to fit or style preferences

  • tailoring

    professional custom-fitting, often by a tailor

文法句型

have alterations done

alterations + to + garment

make alterations to

用法筆記

Almost always countable and often used in the plural (alterations) when referring to adjustments made to a garment. Common in retail contexts ('free alterations with purchase').

常見錯誤

❌I need alteration on my pants.
✅I need alterations to my pants.
💡Use the plural form and the preposition 'to'.

3. the act or process by which something becomes different from its previous state

3.名詞B2
釋義

轉變

事物改變的過程或行為

the act or process by which something becomes different from its previous state

例句

The old warehouse underwent a complete alteration and became a modern art gallery.

舊倉庫經歷了徹底的改造，變成了現代美術館。

undergo alteration — common collocation

Alteration of the company's policies took several months and many team meetings.

公司政策的變動花了數個月時間，開了許多場會議。

同義詞
  • transformation

    more dramatic; implies a complete change in form or nature

  • conversion

    change from one form or function to another

  • modification

    partial change without altering the essential character

反義詞

文法句型

undergo alteration

be subject to alteration

alteration + of + noun

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable and focuses on the general process or act of changing, not on a specific change (distinguish from sense 1). Frequently used with 'undergo' or 'be subject to'.

常見錯誤

❌The alteration of the contract took one hour.' (when referring to a specific change)
✅The alteration to the contract took one hour.
💡Use 'to' for a specific change (sense 1); 'of' here implies the entire process.