Inversion - ONLY

Question

Could you tell me if the sentence below should cause inversion because of "only" at the beginning of the sentence or it doesn't have to.

1) Only in this setting could patients easily understand our philosophy.

I've learned that only can have a negative meaning and if it's placed at the beginning of a sentence, it causes inversion.
But, it isn't necessary to happen all the time??

If so, is the sentence 2) also ok as well as 3)?

2) Only in this setting patients could easily understand our philosophy.

3) Patients could easily understand our philosophy only in this setting.

Thank you in advance!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

H M1) Only in this setting could patients easily understand our philosophy.

Correct because inversion is required.

H M2) Only in this setting patients could easily understand our philosophy.

Incorrect because inversion is required.

H M3) Patients could easily understand our philosophy only in this setting.

This version doesn't sound good at all. If I wanted 'in this setting' at the end, I would rearrange everything like this:

Patients would only be able to understand our philosophy easily in this setting.

CJ

H M · Answer

Thank you very much for your prompt reply and explanation!

I'm wondering, in the sentence 3), if the setting is special and want to focus on that circumstance, can "only" come at the end??

I mean,

4) Patients would be able to understand our philosophy easily only in this setting.

Or, even with the emphasis on its particular circumstance, "only" should be placed as you wrote?
It seems a matter of a position of adverb though.

Also, could you tell me the reason why you used "would be able to" instead of "could"?
I suppose "could" has several meanings and to avoid misunderstanding, you chose "would"...but I'm not sure...

Thank you very much for your time.

CalifJim · Answer

H M4) Patients would be able to understand our philosophy easily only in this setting.

Also fine.

H MIt seems a matter of a position of adverb though.

Yes. Some inveigh against 'only' shifted leftward in the sentence and insist on placing it directly in front of the element that 'only' modifies. I don't insist on this as I believe it sometimes results in sentences that sound a little less natural.

H M"could" has several meanings and to avoid misunderstanding, you chose "would"...

Exactly! It is quite a complex matter to explain all the meanings of could, so I did not attempt a long explanation of it in my last post. In short, without the only-phrase at the beginning, could understand can be taken to mean "were successful in understanding", a meaning that is contrary to the intent of the sentence.

CJ

H M · Answer

Thanks a lot for your reply!

I got it! :-)

Inversion - ONLY

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