These words refer to the transportation of something from one place to another. Move is the most general and informal of these. It can suggest the covering of slight or great distances: moving the desk a few inches to get better light; having the piano moved upstairs. As can be seen, the word can imply great or little effort; it can also refer to the altering of position, as a part of the body, or simply an agitated back-and-forth motion: moving his hand to take hold of hers; moving about in her seat to get more comfortable; branches moving faintly in the slight breeze. Clearly, the word has little connotation in itself and can often be replaced with a more vivid word. It does have exclusive relevance, however, for a person’s changing of residence, including the transportation of his belongings to the new address: moving from Christchurch to Dunedin; moving from a ground-floor flat to one on the third floor.

Shift may specifically suggest a slight move : shifting the heavy refrigerator so that she could clean behind it; shifting his legs so that the latecomers could get past him to their seats. The word can also stress an abrupt or considerable change in responsibilities: They shifted the backlog of work on to the sales manager.

Transfer is a more formal substitute for move , but it is useful to indicate change of occupation or station within the same large grouping; in this it is like one sense of shift : transferred from field work to administrative duties. The word in itself suggests neither promotion nor demotion but merely change of function. The word is also relevant for shifting that involves no actual movement: transferring his phone call to the personnel department; transferring the money from his cheque account to his savings bank.