student asking question

Can I say "transform" instead of "turn"? If not, how these two words are different from one another?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Great question! "Turn [into]," "change [into]," and "transform [into]" have similar meanings and indicate a transformation of some kind. The difference is that "transform" indicates a more radical, extreme change. "Turn" is most similar in meaning to "transform" but slightly less strong in meaning, and "change" indicates a difference but not necessarily a huge transformation. Ex: I like watching the seasons change. => general Ex: The caterpillar turned into a butterfly. => general Ex: The caterpillar transformed into a butterfly. => stronger meaning, more extreme transformation

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