Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 noun, verb #34 le plus courant 12 min de lecture

turns

Top 34

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces turns en 30 secondes

Explication turns in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'turns' is mostly used in very simple contexts. You might learn it as part of a game, like saying 'It's my turn' or 'It's your turn.' This helps you play with others. You also learn it as a verb for basic directions, like 'The car turns left.' At this stage, the focus is on the most common, everyday meanings. You use it to describe simple actions you see every day, like a person turning a key or a child turning a page in a book. The grammar is kept simple, usually in the present tense. You might also hear it when talking about age, like 'He turns six today,' which is a very common way to celebrate birthdays. The goal is to understand that 'turns' means a change in who is doing something or a change in direction.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the A2 level, you start to use 'turns' in more varied sentences. You understand the difference between 'taking turns' (sharing an activity) and 'turning' a corner. You might use it to describe the weather, like 'It turns cold in winter.' You also learn more about physical movement, such as 'The earth turns around the sun.' You begin to see 'turns' in simple stories and instructions. For example, 'First, he turns on the light. Then, he turns the handle.' You are becoming more comfortable with the third-person 's' in 'he turns' and 'she turns.' You also start to recognize simple phrasal verbs like 'turn on' and 'turn off' for lights and electronics, which are essential for daily life. Your vocabulary is growing to include these common combinations.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the B1 level, you use 'turns' with more confidence in both social and descriptive contexts. You can explain the concept of 'taking turns' to resolve a conflict or organize a group. You understand that 'turns' can describe a change in state, like 'The milk turns sour' or 'The situation turns bad.' You are also introduced to more complex phrasal verbs like 'turns out' (to describe a result) and 'turns up' (to arrive). You can use 'turns' to describe more abstract things, like a 'turn of events' in a story or a 'turn in the conversation.' You are able to use it in different tenses, like 'It turned out well' or 'They have been taking turns.' This level requires you to understand the word's versatility in expressing sequence, rotation, and transformation in everyday communication.

At the B2 level, you use 'turns' in more sophisticated ways. You understand idiomatic expressions like 'turns a blind eye' (ignoring something) or 'turns heads' (attracting attention). You can use 'turns' to describe complex processes, like 'The economy turns around' or 'The argument turns on a misunderstanding.' You are comfortable using it in formal writing and discussions. You might use it to describe literary devices, such as a 'plot turn.' You also understand more technical uses, like 'inventory turns' in business or 'turns of phrase' in linguistics. Your ability to use 'turns' accurately in various registers—from casual talk to professional reports—shows a high level of fluency. You can also use it to express nuance, such as 'by turns' to show alternating emotions or states.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C1 level, you have a deep and nuanced understanding of 'turns.' You use it effortlessly in complex idiomatic and metaphorical contexts. You might discuss how a 'political tide turns' or how a 'philosophy turns on a single principle.' You are familiar with rare or formal uses, such as 'a turn of the century' or 'serving one's turn.' You can use 'turns' to create precise and evocative descriptions in creative writing. You understand the subtle differences between 'turns,' 'rotates,' and 'revolves' and choose the most appropriate one for the context. You are also skilled at using phrasal verbs with 'turns' in their most abstract senses, such as 'turning over a new leaf' or 'turning a profit.' Your usage is indistinguishable from that of a native speaker, reflecting a sophisticated grasp of English style and idiom.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C2 level, you master the most subtle and academic uses of 'turns.' You can analyze the 'turns' in a complex philosophical argument or a dense piece of literature. You use the word in highly specialized contexts, such as 'the linguistic turn' in social sciences or 'turns' in musical composition. You are comfortable with archaic or highly literary uses, such as 'the turn of the screw.' You can use 'turns' to express very specific shades of meaning, often in a way that is both concise and powerful. Your command of the word allows you to play with its multiple meanings for rhetorical effect. Whether you are writing a scholarly article or delivering a keynote speech, you use 'turns' with total precision, demonstrating an expert level of linguistic proficiency and cultural awareness.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

turns en 30 secondes

As a noun, 'turns' refers to the sequential opportunities in a group activity, like playing a game or sharing chores fairly among friends.
As a verb, 'turns' describes the action of rotating around an axis, changing physical direction, or transforming into a new state or age.
The word is commonly found in phrasal verbs like 'turns out' (result), 'turns up' (arrive), and 'turns down' (reject or lower volume).
It is a high-frequency word essential for describing social cooperation, navigation, and natural changes in the environment or personal life.

The word turns is a versatile English term that functions both as a plural noun and as the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'turn'. Understanding its dual nature is essential for B1 learners because it appears in everything from simple board games to complex descriptions of physical movement and logical transitions. As a noun, 'turns' most commonly refers to the sequential opportunities provided to members of a group to perform an action. This concept of 'taking turns' is foundational to social cooperation, gaming, and organized labor. For instance, in a classroom setting, a teacher might ensure that every student takes turns reading aloud, ensuring fairness and participation. This usage implies a structured order where one person follows another in a cyclical or linear fashion.

Social Reciprocity: The noun 'turns' describes the rhythmic exchange of roles, such as in a conversation where speakers alternate, or in a household where roommates take turns cleaning the kitchen. It embodies the principle of fairness.

The children are waiting for their turns on the playground swing, standing in a neat line.

Transitioning to its role as a verb, 'turns' describes an action performed by a singular subject (he, she, it, or a singular noun). It primarily denotes circular motion or a change in direction. When a wheel 'turns', it rotates around a central axis. When a car 'turns' left, it changes its trajectory. However, the verb also extends into the realm of transformation and state changes. We often say the weather turns cold, or a leaf turns red in autumn. This metaphorical use signifies a transition from one condition to another. In storytelling, we say the plot turns on a specific event, meaning that the entire direction of the narrative changes because of that moment.

Directional Change: Used to describe physical navigation, such as 'The road turns sharply to the right after the bridge,' or 'He turns the key in the lock.'

Every time the music starts, the dancer turns gracefully on her toes.

In professional contexts, 'turns' appears in phrases like 'inventory turns' (how many times a company sells and replaces its stock) or 'turn of events'. It is a word that bridges the gap between physical mechanics and abstract concepts of time and sequence. Whether you are describing a rotating gear, a changing season, or a group of friends playing Monopoly, 'turns' provides the necessary linguistic structure to describe movement and order. Its frequency in daily English makes it a high-priority word for learners aiming for fluency, as it allows for the description of dynamic processes and social interactions with precision and ease.

Metaphorical Shifts: Refers to changes in mood, opinion, or situation, such as 'The conversation turns serious when they discuss the budget.'

As the sun sets, the sky turns a deep shade of purple and orange.

The athlete turns the corner and heads toward the finish line with a burst of speed.

After many turns in the maze, they finally found the exit.

Using 'turns' correctly requires a clear understanding of whether you are using it as a noun or a verb. When used as a noun, it is almost always plural in the context of 'taking turns'. The structure is usually [Subject] + [Verb (take/wait for/have)] + [turns]. For example, 'We take turns driving' means that one person drives for a while, then the next person drives. It is important to note that 'turns' is countable here, representing individual instances of opportunity. You can also use it to describe physical bends in a road or river: 'The river has many turns before it reaches the sea.' In this case, each 'turn' is a physical curve.

The Noun 'Turns': Used for sequences: 'They took turns on the computer.' Used for physical bends: 'The road's many turns made me feel car-sick.'

The game is more fun when everyone follows the rules and waits for their turns.

When 'turns' functions as a verb, it must agree with a third-person singular subject (he, she, it, or a singular noun). The basic pattern is [Singular Subject] + turns + [Direction/State/Object]. For physical rotation: 'The earth turns on its axis.' For navigation: 'He turns the car into the driveway.' For transformation: 'Milk turns sour if left out.' A common mistake for learners is forgetting the 's' when the subject is singular, or adding it when the subject is plural. Remember: 'He turns' but 'They turn'.

The Verb 'Turns': Rotation: 'The windmill turns in the breeze.' Transformation: 'She turns eighteen tomorrow.' Navigation: 'The path turns left at the oak tree.'

She turns the pages of her book slowly, absorbing every word of the story.

Furthermore, 'turns' is a key component in many phrasal verbs. 'Turns out' is used to describe a result or a discovered truth: 'It turns out she was right all along.' 'Turns up' means to arrive or to increase volume: 'He turns up the radio' or 'She turns up late to every meeting.' 'Turns down' means to reject or decrease volume: 'The company turns down his application.' Mastering these variations allows you to use 'turns' in a wide variety of idiomatic and practical contexts, greatly expanding your expressive range in English.

Whenever he is nervous, he turns his ring around his finger repeatedly.

The chef turns the steak over to ensure it cooks evenly on both sides.

The road turns into a dirt track once you pass the old farmhouse.

You will encounter the word 'turns' in a multitude of real-world scenarios, ranging from casual social gatherings to technical environments. In the world of sports and games, 'turns' is perhaps one of the most frequently used words. Whether it's a board game like Chess, a card game like Poker, or a casual game of 'Truth or Dare', the question 'Whose turn is it?' or the statement 'We are taking turns' is constant. This usage reinforces the idea of fairness and order. In video games, particularly 'turn-based strategy' games, the entire gameplay loop revolves around the concept of individual turns where players make moves sequentially.

Gaming and Sports: Used to manage sequence: 'The referee ensures each player turns to face the opponent.' 'It's your turn to serve in tennis.'

In the board game, the player turns over a card to see if they have won a prize.

In everyday navigation and driving, 'turns' is a staple of GPS instructions and general directions. You will hear phrases like 'The road turns to the left' or 'After three turns, you will see the station.' In a car, the 'turn signal' (or 'indicator' in British English) is the light that flashes when a driver 'turns'. Traffic reports often mention 'turns' in the context of intersections or specific bends in the highway that are prone to accidents. Understanding this usage is vital for anyone learning to drive or navigate in an English-speaking country.

Navigation and Travel: Describing routes: 'The hiking trail turns sharply near the waterfall.' 'The pilot turns the aircraft toward the runway.'

The GPS voice says, 'In 200 meters, the road turns slightly right.'

Another common place to hear 'turns' is in discussions about time, age, and weather. When someone 'turns' a certain age, it marks a significant milestone. You'll hear, 'My son turns five next month.' In weather forecasts, 'turns' describes a change in conditions: 'The weather turns cold on Tuesday.' In a more abstract sense, you might hear about a 'turn of the century' or a 'turn of the tide', referring to major shifts in history or circumstances. Even in the kitchen, a recipe might say 'the mixture turns golden brown', indicating a visual change during cooking. This breadth of usage makes 'turns' an indispensable part of the English vocabulary.

As the milk boils, it turns into a thick froth perfect for a latte.

The old key turns with a satisfying click in the rusty lock.

The conversation turns to politics every time the family gathers for dinner.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with 'turns' involves subject-verb agreement. Because 'turns' can be both a plural noun and a singular verb, it is easy to get confused. As a verb, 'turns' is only for 'he', 'she', 'it', or a singular noun (e.g., 'The wheel turns'). Learners often say 'They turns' or 'The wheels turns', which is incorrect. Conversely, when using 'turns' as a noun in the phrase 'take turns', some learners forget to make it plural, saying 'We take turn'. While 'take a turn' is a valid phrase for a single instance, 'take turns' is the standard way to describe a repeated, shared activity among multiple people.

Subject-Verb Agreement: Incorrect: 'The students turns the page.' Correct: 'The students turn the page.' Incorrect: 'He turn the key.' Correct: 'He turns the key.'

Common Error: Saying 'We take turn' instead of 'We take turns' when referring to a group activity.

Another area of confusion is the distinction between 'turns' and 'returns'. While they look similar, they have very different meanings. 'Turns' refers to rotation or sequence, while 'returns' means to go back to a previous place or state. For example, 'He turns the book' (rotates it) vs. 'He returns the book' (gives it back to the library). Additionally, learners sometimes confuse 'turns' with 'becomes'. While 'turns' can mean 'becomes' (e.g., 'the milk turns sour'), it is usually reserved for natural or sudden changes in state, color, or age. You wouldn't usually say 'He turns a doctor'; instead, you would say 'He becomes a doctor'.

Confusion with 'Returns': 'Turns' = Rotation/Sequence. 'Returns' = Coming back. Example: 'The fan turns quickly.' vs 'The bird returns to its nest.'

Incorrect: 'The weather returns cold.' Correct: 'The weather turns cold.'

Finally, the preposition used with 'turns' as a verb is crucial. 'Turns into' implies a complete transformation (e.g., 'The caterpillar turns into a butterfly'), while 'turns to' often implies looking toward something or a less drastic change (e.g., 'He turns to his friend for help' or 'Water turns to ice'). Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning of your sentence significantly. Practice these distinctions to avoid common pitfalls and sound more like a native speaker.

Mistake: 'She turns the light' (unclear). Correct: 'She turns on the light.'

Mistake: 'The road turns leftly.' Correct: 'The road turns left.'

The machine turns off automatically after ten minutes of inactivity.

To enrich your vocabulary, it's helpful to know synonyms and alternatives for 'turns' depending on the context. When 'turns' refers to physical rotation, words like rotates, spins, or revolves are excellent substitutes. 'Rotates' is often used for objects moving around an internal axis (like a wheel), while 'revolves' is used for objects moving around an external point (like the Earth revolving around the sun). 'Spins' usually implies a very fast rotation. Using these specific verbs can make your descriptions more vivid and accurate.

Rotation Synonyms: 'Rotates': The earth rotates once every 24 hours. 'Spins': The top spins on the floor. 'Revolves': The moon revolves around the earth.

Instead of saying 'the wheel turns', you could say 'the wheel rotates' for a more technical tone.

In the context of 'taking turns', you might use words like shifts, rounds, or sequences. For example, in a workplace, employees might work in 'shifts' rather than 'taking turns' in a casual sense. In a game, you might refer to the 'rounds' of play. If you are talking about a change in state, alternatives like becomes, transforms, or evolves are useful. 'Transforms' suggests a major, often positive change, while 'becomes' is a general-purpose word for any change in state. 'Evolves' implies a slow, gradual change over time.

State Change Alternatives: 'Becomes': He becomes angry. 'Transforms': The room transforms into a dance floor. 'Changes': The color changes from blue to green.

The story turns (or shifts) focus from the hero to the villain in the second chapter.

For navigation, instead of 'turns', you could use pivots, swerves, or diverges. 'Pivots' implies turning on a single point, like a basketball player. 'Swerves' suggests a sudden, often defensive turn to avoid something. 'Diverges' is used when one path splits into two. Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the word that best fits the speed, intent, and physical nature of the movement you are describing, making your English more sophisticated and expressive.

The car swerves to avoid a pothole, which is more specific than saying it turns.

The dancer pivots on one foot, showing incredible balance and control.

The path diverges into two separate trails, one leading to the lake and the other to the mountain.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The concept of 'taking turns' likely evolved from the idea of a rotating wheel or a circular sequence, where each person's position comes around again and again.

Guide de prononciation

UK /tɜːnz/

US /tɜrnz/

The stress is on the single syllable of the word.

Rime avec

burns learns earns ferns yearns urns concerns returns

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 's' as a sharp 's' instead of a 'z'.
Dropping the 'r' sound entirely in American English.
Confusing the vowel sound with 'torn' or 'tan'.
Over-emphasizing the 't' sound.
Failing to link the 'z' sound to the next word.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in most texts due to its common usage.

Écriture 3/5

Requires care with subject-verb agreement and phrasal verbs.

Expression orale 3/5

Idiomatic uses and phrasal verbs can be tricky to use naturally.

Écoute 2/5

Usually clear in context, though 'turns' and 'returns' can sound similar.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

turn move change game left right

Apprends ensuite

rotation sequence transformation indicator alternative

Avancé

pivot veer revolve deviate metamorphosis

Grammaire à connaître

Subject-Verb Agreement

He turns (singular) vs. They turn (plural).

Phrasal Verbs

Turn on, turn off, turn up, turn down.

Gerunds after 'take turns'

They take turns cleaning the house.

Linking Verbs

'Turns' can act as a linking verb followed by an adjective: 'The sky turns grey.'

Prepositional Phrases

Turns into (transformation) vs. turns to (direction/help).

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Exemples par niveau

It is your turn to play.

C'est à ton tour de jouer.

Noun usage, singular 'turn' for one person.

He turns the key in the door.

Il tourne la clé dans la porte.

Verb usage, third-person singular 'turns'.

The car turns left at the light.

La voiture tourne à gauche au feu.

Verb usage, describing direction.

She turns five years old today.

Elle a cinq ans aujourd'hui.

Verb usage, referring to age.

We take turns on the swing.

Nous passons chacun notre tour sur la balançoire.

Noun usage, plural 'turns' for a shared activity.

The page turns easily.

La page se tourne facilement.

Verb usage, describing an object's movement.

He turns off the television.

Il éteint la télévision.

Phrasal verb 'turn off' in third-person singular.

The wheel turns around and around.

La roue tourne encore et encore.

Verb usage, describing rotation.

The weather turns cold in October.

Le temps devient froid en octobre.

Verb usage, describing a change in state.

She turns on the lamp to read.

Elle allume la lampe pour lire.

Phrasal verb 'turn on'.

The road turns many times in the mountains.

La route tourne plusieurs fois dans les montagnes.

Verb usage, describing a path.

They are taking turns to wash the dishes.

Ils font la vaisselle à tour de rôle.

Noun usage, plural 'turns' in a continuous tense.

He turns the handle and opens the window.

Il tourne la poignée et ouvre la fenêtre.

Verb usage, sequential actions.

The milk turns sour if you don't put it in the fridge.

Le lait tourne s'il n'est pas au frigo.

Verb usage, describing spoilage.

She turns her head to look at the bird.

Elle tourne la tête pour regarder l'oiseau.

Verb usage, physical movement.

The story turns into a mystery in the second chapter.

L'histoire se transforme en mystère au deuxième chapitre.

Phrasal verb 'turn into'.

It turns out that the meeting was canceled.

Il s'avère que la réunion a été annulée.

Phrasal verb 'turns out' used to introduce a fact.

He turns up late for every practice.

Il arrive en retard à chaque entraînement.

Phrasal verb 'turns up' meaning to arrive.

The conversation turns to the upcoming holidays.

La conversation dévie sur les vacances à venir.

Verb usage, describing a shift in topic.

She turns down the job offer because the salary is too low.

Elle refuse l'offre d'emploi car le salaire est trop bas.

Phrasal verb 'turns down' meaning to reject.

The caterpillar turns into a butterfly after a few weeks.

La chenille se transforme en papillon après quelques semaines.

Phrasal verb 'turns into' describing transformation.

He turns the radio down so he can hear the phone.

Il baisse la radio pour pouvoir entendre le téléphone.

Phrasal verb 'turn down' meaning to reduce volume.

The situation turns serious when the police arrive.

La situation devient sérieuse quand la police arrive.

Verb usage, describing a change in atmosphere.

They take turns to look after the baby at night.

Ils s'occupent du bébé à tour de rôle la nuit.

Noun usage, 'take turns' for shared responsibility.

The company turns a profit for the first time in three years.

L'entreprise réalise un bénéfice pour la première fois en trois ans.

Idiomatic phrase 'turns a profit'.

She turns a blind eye to her son's bad behavior.

Elle ferme les yeux sur le mauvais comportement de son fils.

Idiom 'turns a blind eye'.

The plot turns on a secret letter found in the attic.

L'intrigue repose sur une lettre secrète trouvée au grenier.

Verb usage, 'turns on' meaning to depend on.

He turns his back on his former friends after becoming famous.

Il tourne le dos à ses anciens amis après être devenu célèbre.

Idiom 'turns his back on'.

The argument turns into a heated debate about politics.

L'argument se transforme en un débat passionné sur la politique.

Phrasal verb 'turns into' for abstract concepts.

She turns heads whenever she enters a room.

Elle attire tous les regards dès qu'elle entre dans une pièce.

Idiom 'turns heads' meaning to attract attention.

The economy turns around after the new policy is implemented.

L'économie se redresse après la mise en œuvre de la nouvelle politique.

Phrasal verb 'turns around' meaning to improve.

He turns to crime after losing his job.

Il se tourne vers le crime après avoir perdu son emploi.

Verb usage, 'turns to' meaning to start doing something bad.

The narrative turns on the protagonist's moral dilemma.

Le récit s'articule autour du dilemme moral du protagoniste.

Sophisticated use of 'turns on' for literary analysis.

He was by turns arrogant and humble during the interview.

Il était tour à tour arrogant et humble pendant l'entretien.

Phrase 'by turns' used for alternating states.

The project turns out to be more complex than initially anticipated.

Le projet s'avère plus complexe que prévu initialement.

Phrasal verb 'turns out' with an infinitive.

She turns her hand to anything from gardening to coding.

Elle s'essaie à tout, du jardinage au codage.

Idiom 'turns her hand to' meaning to try a new skill.

The tide turns against the incumbent government.

Le vent tourne contre le gouvernement en place.

Metaphorical use of 'tide turns'.

He turns a deaf ear to all the criticism.

Il fait la sourde oreille à toutes les critiques.

Idiom 'turns a deaf ear'.

The investigation turns up new evidence that changes everything.

L'enquête met au jour de nouvelles preuves qui changent tout.

Phrasal verb 'turns up' meaning to discover.

The conversation turns on a point of law that few understand.

La conversation porte sur un point de droit que peu comprennent.

Academic use of 'turns on'.

The success of the treaty turns on the resolution of the border dispute.

Le succès du traité dépend de la résolution du conflit frontalier.

Formal use of 'turns on' in a geopolitical context.

The poem turns on a subtle shift in imagery in the final stanza.

Le poème s'articule autour d'un subtil changement d'imagerie dans la dernière strophe.

Literary analysis of 'turns'.

He turns the situation to his advantage with remarkable cunning.

Il tourne la situation à son avantage avec une ruse remarquable.

Idiomatic use of 'turns to his advantage'.

The linguistic turn in philosophy reshaped our understanding of meaning.

Le tournant linguistique en philosophie a remodelé notre compréhension du sens.

Specialized academic term 'linguistic turn'.

She turns over the management of the estate to her daughter.

Elle confie la gestion du domaine à sa fille.

Phrasal verb 'turns over' meaning to transfer responsibility.

The debate turns on the distinction between ethics and morality.

Le débat porte sur la distinction entre l'éthique et la morale.

High-level academic use of 'turns on'.

He turns a phrase with such elegance that he is a joy to read.

Il a une telle élégance de style que c'est un plaisir de le lire.

Idiom 'turns a phrase' referring to writing style.

The company's fortunes turn on the outcome of the lawsuit.

Le destin de l'entreprise dépend de l'issue du procès.

Formal use of 'turns on'.

Collocations courantes

take turns

turns out

turns up

turns down

turns into

turns pale

turns a profit

turns left/right

turns eighteen

turns sour

Phrases Courantes

in turns

— One after another in a sequence. It describes the order of actions.

The students answered the questions in turns.

at every turn

— Happening frequently or everywhere. It implies constant obstacles or events.

He faced difficulties at every turn of the project.

by turns

— Alternating between different states or moods. It shows a rapid change.

The movie was by turns hilarious and heartbreaking.

turn of events

— A change in a situation. It often refers to something unexpected.

An unexpected turn of events led to his promotion.

turn of phrase

— A particular way of saying something. It refers to style and expression.

She has a very clever turn of phrase.

wait your turn

— To stay in line or wait for your opportunity. It is about patience.

You must wait your turn to use the computer.

turn of the century

— The period when one century ends and another begins. It is a historical marker.

The house was built at the turn of the century.

turn a corner

— To pass a critical point and start to improve. It is a positive metaphor.

The patient has finally turned a corner and is getting better.

turn the tide

— To change the course of events, usually from bad to good. It is often used in sports or war.

The new player helped turn the tide for the team.

turn the page

— To move on from a difficult period in life. It signifies a fresh start.

After the divorce, she was ready to turn the page.

Souvent confondu avec

turns vs returns

Returns means going back; turns means rotating or changing direction.

turns vs becomes

Turns is often used for natural or sudden changes; becomes is more general.

turns vs rotates

Rotates is more technical and specific to movement around an axis.

Expressions idiomatiques

"turn a blind eye"

— To pretend not to notice something, usually something bad. It is a common social idiom.

The manager turns a blind eye to employees arriving late.

informal/neutral

"turn heads"

— To attract a lot of attention because of being very attractive or unusual. It is often used for fashion.

Her stunning dress turns heads at the party.

informal

"turn over a new leaf"

— To start behaving in a better way. It is a metaphor for personal growth.

He promised to turn over a new leaf and stop smoking.

neutral

"turn the tables"

— To change a situation so that you now have an advantage over someone who previously had an advantage over you.

She turned the tables on her rival by winning the final round.

neutral

"turn a deaf ear"

— To ignore what someone is saying, especially a request or a warning.

The government turns a deaf ear to the protesters' demands.

neutral

"turn someone's stomach"

— To make someone feel sick or disgusted. It is used for physical or moral disgust.

The smell of the old meat turns my stomach.

informal

"turn up the heat"

— To increase the pressure on someone to do something. It is often used in business or politics.

The investigators are turning up the heat on the suspect.

informal

"turn on a dime"

— To change direction or opinion very quickly and easily. It implies great agility.

The sports car can turn on a dime.

informal

"turn the other cheek"

— To not retaliate when someone mistreats you. It is a moral or religious idiom.

He decided to turn the other cheek instead of fighting back.

neutral

"turn someone inside out"

— To cause someone a lot of distress or to change someone completely.

The loss of his job turned him inside out.

informal

Facile à confondre

turns vs turn

It is the singular form of the noun or the plural form of the verb.

'Turns' is used for third-person singular verbs or plural nouns. 'Turn' is for other verb persons or singular nouns.

He turns (verb) vs. They turn (verb). One turn (noun) vs. Two turns (noun).

turns vs tern

It sounds exactly the same (homophone).

A 'tern' is a type of sea bird. 'Turns' is the word we are studying.

The tern flies over the ocean.

turns vs torn

Similar spelling and sound.

'Torn' is the past participle of 'tear' (to rip). 'Turns' is about rotation or sequence.

My shirt is torn.

turns vs tones

Similar vowel sound and ending.

'Tones' refers to sounds or colors. 'Turns' refers to movement or sequence.

The music has soft tones.

turns vs tunes

Similar spelling.

'Tunes' are melodies or songs. 'Turns' is about rotation or sequence.

She hums her favorite tunes.

Structures de phrases

It is [possessive pronoun] turn.

It is my turn.

[Subject] turns [direction].

The path turns right.

It turns out that [clause].

It turns out that she was at home.

[Subject] take turns [verb-ing].

We take turns cooking dinner.

[Subject] turns a [noun].

The company turns a profit.

[Subject] is by turns [adj] and [adj].

The sea was by turns calm and violent.

The [noun] turns on [noun].

The argument turns on a technicality.

[Subject] turns [noun] to [possessive] advantage.

He turns the crisis to his advantage.

Famille de mots

Noms

turn

turner

turning

turnover

turnstile

Verbes

turn

upturn

overturn

return

Adjectifs

turned

turning

turnable

Apparenté

rotation

revolution

sequence

transition

transformation

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour voir tous les exemples

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written English.

Erreurs courantes

They turns the wheel. → They turn the wheel.
With plural subjects like 'they', the verb should not have an 's'.
We take turn to play. → We take turns to play.
When a group is sharing an activity, 'turns' must be plural.
It returns out he was right. → It turns out he was right.
The phrasal verb is 'turns out', not 'returns out'.
He turns a teacher. → He becomes a teacher.
We use 'becomes' for professions, not 'turns'.
The weather returns cold. → The weather turns cold.
We use 'turns' to describe a change in weather state.

Astuces

Subject-Verb Agreement

Always remember the 's' for 'he', 'she', and 'it'. 'The motor turns smoothly' is correct, but 'The motors turns' is not.

Gaming Context

In games, 'turns' is almost always a noun. 'We are playing in turns' or 'How many turns are left?'

Color Changes

Use 'turns' for natural color changes. 'The leaves turn yellow' or 'His face turns red with anger.'

Turn On/Off

These are essential! 'He turns on the light' and 'She turns off the computer' are used every day.

Blind Eye

The idiom 'turns a blind eye' is a great way to say someone is ignoring a problem on purpose.

Plot Twists

In your writing, use 'a turn in the story' to describe a surprising change that keeps readers interested.

Asking for Turns

When you want to play, ask 'Whose turn is it?' It is the most natural way to join a group activity.

The 'Z' Sound

The 's' at the end of 'turns' sounds like a 'z'. Practice saying 'burns' and 'turns' to get the sound right.

Giving Directions

When giving directions, 'turns' is a verb. 'The road turns left after the park.' It describes the path.

Turn Into

Use 'turns into' for a big change. 'The ice turns into water' or 'The dream turns into a nightmare.'

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a 'U-Turn'. It's a change in direction. Now think of 'Turns' as many people making their own moves in a circle.

Association visuelle

Imagine a group of people standing around a large wheel. Each person gets to spin the wheel when it 'turns' to them.

Word Web

Game Circle Change Order Rotation Sequence Navigation Age

Défi

Try to use 'turns' as a noun and a verb in the same sentence. For example: 'He turns the wheel while we take turns watching the map.'

Origine du mot

The word comes from the Old English 'tyrnan', which was derived from the Latin 'tornare' (to turn in a lathe). This Latin root itself comes from 'tornus', meaning a lathe or a tool for making circles.

Sens originel : To rotate or fashion something on a lathe.

Germanic (Old English) with strong Latin influences.

Contexte culturel

There are no major sensitivities, but 'turns' can be used in medical contexts (e.g., 'turns for the worse') which should be handled with care.

The phrase 'it's not your turn' can be a common way to correct behavior in children.

The song 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' by The Byrds, based on the Book of Ecclesiastes. The novel 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. The phrase 'the world turns' used in various media to describe the passage of time.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Playing a board game

Whose turn is it?
It's my turn.
You skipped my turn.
Wait for your turn.

Driving or giving directions

The road turns left.
Make two right turns.
The car turns sharply.
Watch for the turn.

Describing weather or nature

The leaves turn brown.
The weather turns cold.
The sky turns dark.
The tide turns.

Talking about age

He turns ten today.
She turns eighteen next week.
When he turns twenty...
Just before she turns thirty.

Discovering information

It turns out that...
As it turns out...
Everything turns out fine.
How did it turn out?

Amorces de conversation

"Whose turn is it to choose the movie tonight?"

"How do you feel when the weather suddenly turns cold?"

"Has it ever turned out that you were right when everyone else was wrong?"

"What do you want to do when you turn thirty?"

"Do you like games where you have to take turns, or do you prefer everyone playing at once?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe a time when a situation turned out much better than you expected.

Write about a hobby where you have to take turns with other people.

How does your mood change when the season turns from summer to autumn?

Think of a story where a single turn of events changed everything for the hero.

Reflect on how your life might change when you turn a certain age.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It can be both! As a noun, it's the plural of 'turn' (like taking turns in a game). As a verb, it's the third-person singular of 'turn' (like 'he turns the key').

Use 'turns out' when you want to describe a result or a fact that was discovered later. For example, 'It turns out the movie was great!'

Use 'turn' for 'I/you/we/they' verbs or singular nouns. Use 'turns' for 'he/she/it' verbs or plural nouns. For example: 'I turn' but 'She turns'.

No, it's better to say 'He becomes a doctor.' Use 'turns' for ages (turns thirty) or colors (turns red), but not for professions.

It means two or more people doing something one after the other so that everyone has a chance. 'We take turns using the bike.'

Yes, we often say 'the weather turns cold' or 'it turns rainy' to describe a change in the conditions.

It can mean to arrive (He turns up late) or to increase something like volume (She turns up the music).

It is a phrase used to describe a change in a situation, often one that is surprising or unexpected.

Yes! It is very common to say 'He turns five' or 'She turns twenty-one' to talk about birthdays.

It means alternating between two different things. 'The weather was by turns sunny and rainy all day.'

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour les astuces et notes