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Eagleflych Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

A question about "only"

Thank you for your replies in advance.
My question is:
Suppose the circumstances:
Some people thought it needed more than three people to push over a wall, but then three people pushed over the wall.
I think the fact proves that it is easy to push over the wall. It doesn't need more than three people.
Can I say "only three people pushed over the wall" to express the meaning above?
I feel the sentence is wrong, because the sentence implies "no other people participated the action of the pushing over the wall".
But what is the right expression?

Thanks a lot.
  

Top answer

" This has a sense that three is not very many, or is fewer than was previously thought or previously claimed.

— Mr Wordy

  • " This has a sense that three is not very many, or is fewer than was previously thought or previously claimed.
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12 Answers
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You can say "It took only three people to push over the wall."

This has a sense that three is not very many, or is fewer than was previously thought or previously claimed.
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eagleflych Some people thought it needed more than three people to push over a wall, but then three people pushed over the wall.
Can I say "only three people pushed over the wall" to express the meaning above?
I feel the sentence is wrong, because the sentence implies "no other people participated the action of th
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AvangiWhat's wrong with that? It's true, isn't it?
As I understand it, the OP is saying that the sentence "only three people pushed over the wall" is unsatisfactory because it does not unambiguously indicate that three is an unexpectedly small number, or smaller than predicted.
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AvangiWhat's wrong with that? It's true, isn't it?
Actually, if you grant that the wall may be quite flimsy, the sentence

Only three people pushed over the wall

can even mean that one person pushed over the wall (and then righted it), then another, then another, but after that, no one else.

CJ
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Hi, Wordy,
That may well be what he's saying, but it makes absolutely no sense. What am I missing?

- A.
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CalifJimlcan even mean that one person pushed over the wall (and then righted it), then another, then another, but after that, no one else.CJ
I sincerely hope it's made of boulders.
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Avangimade of boulders
Emotion: big smile
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AvangiThat may well be what he's saying, but it makes absolutely no sense. What am I missing?
I'm not sure. As I understand it, the OP wants a formulation that emphasises the idea that pushing over the wall is easier than might be expected, and takes fewer people than might be expected. "Only three people pushed over the wall" does not, to my mind, express ide
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I feel the sentence is wrong, because the sentence implies "no other people participated the action of the pushing over the wall".

This is all I'm questioning. I think your addition of "only" is fine.

Best wishes, - A.
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AvangiI feel the sentence is wrong, because the sentence implies "no other people participated the action of the pushing over the wall".

This is all I'm questioning. I think your addition of "only" is fine.
Oh, I see. Yeah, I agree that part is a bit obscure. I was focussing on the preceding explanation "Some people thought it needed more than three p
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