change A to B

Status
Not open for further replies.

tzfujimino

Key Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
Hello, again.:-D

Please look at the sentences below.

1. My cellphone is old./The cellphone I have now is old.
2. I want to change it to a new one.

Does #2 have the connotation of "buying a new one"?

Thank you.
 
Not necessarily. You might be asking your boss to give you a new company phone.
 
I'd say "I want to change it for a new one".
 
2. I want to change it to a new one.

Does #2 have the connotation of "buying a new one"?

No- it would imply a transformation of the old phone, which is not possible. You could do something like change to a new provider, where you'd have something different with the same phone. Like 5jj, I would use for when you're getting a new phone.
 
If you were planning to buy a new phone, I wouldn't bother using "change" at all. You're not going to take your old phone into a shop and ask them to take it back but sell you a new one. I would just say "My cellphone is old. I want to buy/get a new one".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top