Alter + object (to change or modify something)
This is the most common use: to make something different without completely transforming it.
- She decided to alter her dress for the wedding.
- They had to alter the schedule due to rain.
- He wanted to alter his appearance.
- The company will alter its strategy.
- The architect agreed to alter the design.
- We had to alter our plans at the last minute.
- The teacher tried to alter his approach.
- He will alter the contract before signing.
- They decided to alter the policy.
- She asked the tailor to alter her coat.
👉 Used in both formal and everyday contexts.
Alter + behavior / attitude / lifestyle (to adapt or change)
Refers to personal or social adjustments.
- He tried to alter his lifestyle after the diagnosis.
- She promised to alter her behavior.
- The therapy helped him alter his thinking patterns.
- They had to alter their attitude toward work.
- He was forced to alter his eating habits.
- She slowly altered her mindset.
- The experience altered his perspective.
- He had to alter his daily routine.
- They are trying to alter their parenting style.
- He must alter his study habits.
👉 Often linked to self-improvement and psychology.
Be altered (passive use)
Shows that something has been changed by someone or something.
- The document was altered without permission.
- His face was altered by surgery.
- The photo had been altered digitally.
- The plan was altered at the last minute.
- The dress was altered to fit her size.
- The schedule was altered due to unforeseen events.
- The contract was altered after negotiations.
- The rules were altered slightly.
- The report was altered before publication.
- The results were altered by external factors.
👉 Passive voice emphasizes the object, not the actor.
Alter + environment / situation / conditions
Used when changing the setting or context.
- Climate change will alter weather patterns.
- Technology continues to alter the workplace.
- The new policy may alter the market.
- War can alter the course of history.
- This discovery could alter the future of medicine.
- The experiment will alter the chemical balance.
- Migration has altered the city’s culture.
- The law will alter the legal landscape.
- The innovation will alter production methods.
- Pollution may alter the ecosystem.
👉 Common in academic, environmental, and social studies.
Slightly / radically / fundamentally alter (intensifiers)
The word is often modified to show degree of change.
- He wanted to slightly alter the design.
- The news radically altered her mood.
- This event fundamentally altered society.
- They dramatically altered the proposal.
- The experience completely altered his beliefs.
- She significantly altered the recipe.
- The teacher subtly altered his tone.
- The decision permanently altered their relationship.
- The surgery visibly altered his face.
- The crisis profoundly altered their lives.
👉 Adverbs highlight how much alteration happens.
Legal / technical / scientific usage
In formal contexts, alter means to make modifications (precise or official).
- It is illegal to alter official documents.
- The gene was altered in the experiment.
- He tried to alter the evidence.
- The contract was illegally altered.
- Scientists altered the DNA sequence.
- The data was altered by a programming error.
- She attempted to alter the official record.
- They plan to alter the legal framework.
- The machine settings were altered.
- The formula was altered slightly.
👉 Often seen in law, science, and engineering.
Emotional / experiential usage
“Alter” can describe how experiences change someone’s feelings or inner state.
- The tragedy altered him forever.
- Travel altered her perspective on life.
- The loss altered their relationship.
- The movie altered my mood.
- Success altered his character.
- The experience altered her outlook.
- Time had altered their friendship.
- The accident altered his personality.
- Love altered her completely.
- The news altered his emotions.
👉 A deeper, transformational sense.
Summary
✅ So, in summary:
- Alter + object = change/modify something physical or abstract.
- Alter behavior/attitude = adapt or adjust.
- Be altered = passive changes.
- Alter environment/situation = influence external conditions.
- Adverb + alter = degree of change (slightly, radically, fundamentally).
- Legal/technical = formal modifications.
- Emotional/experiential = deep personal change.