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Liveinjapan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Only sent her three letters

I only sent her three letters.
Which does only modify, sent or three letters?

Thanks
  

Top answer

Liveinjapan I only sent her three letters. Which does only modify, sent or three letters ? Thanks One of my special points.

— Philip

  • Liveinjapan I only sent her three letters.
  • Which does only modify, sent or three letters ?
  • Thanks One of my special points.
  • "only" modifies "three", so it clearly should be I sent her only three letters.
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9 Answers
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Liveinjapan I only sent her three letters.

Which does only modify, sent or three letters?


Thanks


One of my special points. "only" modifies "three", so it clearly should be I sent her only three letters.
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Thanks, Philip.
I thought it would be, and I think most Japanese make a mistake, taking its meaning 'only sent.' It's one of the difficult points for Japanese learners.
How about: I only sent her some letters.
Which does only modify?
How about: I just sent her three letters.
Which does just modify?
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LiveinjapanThanks, Philip.

I thought it would be, and I think most Japanese make a mistake, taking its meaning 'only sent.' It's one of the difficult points for Japanese learners.

How about: I only sent her some letters.

Which does only modify?

How about: I just sent her three letters.

Which
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Many thanks, Philip.
I understand this issue.
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Hi LiJ
Only is often placed in the same position as adverbs of frequency (often, usually, never, ever, seldom, always etc.) even though it is meant to modify a word that is quite far away from it. This practice is so common that it isn't generally regarded as a mistake. It's just one of the features that make English a little inexact.
In theory, only can be
1. before th
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Cool BreezeOnly is often placed in the same position as adverbs of frequency (often, usually, never, ever, seldom, always etc.) even though it is meant to modify a word that is quite far away from it.
Your English has always been amazing to me. One day, I hope to be able to exlain the theory as you do.
Thanks, CB.
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Philip
Liveinjapan I only sent her three letters.

Which does only modify, sent or three letters?

Thanks


One of my special points. "only" modifies "three", so it clearly should be I sent her only three letters.

"I sent her only three letters" appears to mean I sent her
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LiveinjapanYour English has always been amazing to me. One day, I hope to be able to exlain the theory as you do.
Thank you for the compliment, LiJ. Even in my own humble opinion I do know something about the grammar of English but I also know that I'll be a student of the language for the rest of my life. My English pales in comparison with my Finnish. I ofte
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Philip
Liveinjapan I only sent her three letters.


Which does only modify, sent or three letters?

Thanks

One of my special points. "only" modifies "three", so it clearly should be I sent her only three letters.


"I sent her only t
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