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Lcchang Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Only

Flying saucers only exist in people's imagination.

Flying saucers exist only in people's imagination.


I can't tell the difference. Please help. Thanks.
  

Top answer

In that case: Lcchang Flying saucers only exist in people's imagination. Here it gives emphasis to the mere existence in people's imaginations. Lcchang Flying saucers exist only in people's imagination.

— Soka

  • In that case: Lcchang Flying saucers only exist in people's imagination.
  • Here it gives emphasis to the mere existence in people's imaginations.
  • Lcchang Flying saucers exist only in people's imagination.
  • Here it emphasises that they exist nowhere else except in our imagination.
  • I guess, while speaking, the above sentences would imply almost the same meaning, depending on how you speak the word 'only'.
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4 Answers
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In writing, 'only' is generally placed before the word or phrase that needs to be 'modified' or 'limited'.In that case:
LcchangFlying saucers only exist in people's imagination.
Here it gives emphasis to the mere existence in people's imaginations.
LcchangFlying saucers exist only in people's imagination.
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There's a third alternative: Flying saucers exist in people's imagination only. It's very common to put only in the same position as such words as always, never, ever, seldom etc. That seldom creates confusion or ambiguity. You can place only before the word it modifies, too. Both your sentences have the same meaning.

Only is often after the wor
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Thank you. But I am still confused especially about your explanation of the first one:

Here it gives emphasis to the mere existence in people's imaginations.

What does "mere existence" mean here? I feel it makes no difference to the second sentence.

Please advise more. Thank you.
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LcchangFlying saucers only exist in people's imagination.
Flying saucers exist only in people's imagination.
I can't tell the difference.
I can't tell the difference either, and I'm a native speaker!
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