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Peaceblinkfriend Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

'It was only until recently that I found the manuscript'

Does it sound natural to say 'It was only until recently that I found the manuscript' ?

Thanks

PBF
  

Top answer

Peaceblinkfriend Does it sound natural to say 'It was only until recently that I found the manuscript' ? Thanks PBF No It was only recently that I found the manuscript. or I didn't find the manuscript until recently.

— Optilang

  • Peaceblinkfriend Does it sound natural to say 'It was only until recently that I found the manuscript' ?
  • Thanks PBF No It was only recently that I found the manuscript.
  • or I didn't find the manuscript until recently.
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4 Answers
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PeaceblinkfriendDoes it sound natural to say 'It was only until recently that I found the manuscript' ?

Thanks

PBF

No

It was only recently that I found the manuscript.

or

I didn't find the manuscript until recently.
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Thanks for your reply, optilang.

I see how I should phrase it the correct way. Hmm...could you tell me why the original sentence was wrong just so I will know what to look out for?

Thank you again.

PBF
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If you use "only until recently" then you must describe a STATE not an ACTION.

Finding the manuscript is an action.

It was only until recently that I never even knew the manuscript existed.

"It was only until" is probably not a great thing to put in writing, but it's a common enough way to say something.

In writing, I'd say something like "I didn't (even) know t
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Okay. So this is how it works.

I didn't even know how to use the phrase 'only until recently' until very recently!

Thanks Barbara.
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