Expert: A.M. Roher - 5/11/2006

Question
1. This article discusses how monetary systems evolved throughout the history.
    The first personal computer came into being in 1983.
    Credit cards have found more and more users since plastic money was invented.

  People use different forms of money throughout the history.


Are all the above sentences grammatically correct?

2.
What's the difference between "change ..to" and "change..into"?

I want to change this money (to or into) U.S. dollars.

Should I use "to" or "into"? Can you give me another example?  

Answer
Hello, Martin.
1.  All sentences are correct except that the last one has the wrong verb tense and an unnecessary "the."  ("People have used different forms of money throughout history.")
2.  Use "into" when you are literally changing something into something else, such as changing dollars into Euros or changing into another outfit of clothing, or changing into a madman trying to do your grammar.  Use "to" when you are changing one form to another, such as changing the TV station from 14 to 24, or changing your date to another restaurant, or changing your favorite team from the Steelers to the Browns.  

I hope that this helps.