a pattern is written for straight needles but i want to knit it on circulars. does this mean that for every other row, the stitches to to be opposite of what is typed (purl instead of knit)?
oh and does it matter if i knit it on circulars. i won’t be making a tube-like piece, just a scarf. will it matter that i’m not truly knitting in a round?
all help is appreciated 
If you’re not making a tube but knitting flat using circs then you will work it exactly as the pattern tells you to - there is nothing to swap, i.e. knit/purl. You will still be turning your work in order to knit or purl.
Start off with the stitch that has the working yarn as the first stitch on the needle in your left hand. At the end of each row you will still turn your work around, just as though you were using straight needles. The previous poster is correct, no stitches need to be swapped because you are still knitting back and forth - just pretend the two needle ends aren’t joined by that cord.
THX SO MUCH!