only uses...

Question

Hi Everyone,I'm marking a piece of writing by a student and am wondering why it's better to say...'The process only uses special effects...'rather than (as the student wrote)'The process uses only especial effects...'Given adverbs can jump around a sentence, why is the first sentence better than the second (to my ear anyway)?or is it better???ThanksCC

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Cup cake why is the first sentence better than the second (to my ear anyway)?

It is not to my ear. I much prefer the student's version. Compare:

The process only uses special effects ( = it only uses them; it does not create them.)
The process uses only special effects (= it uses nothing else but special effects)

However, you have not given us the complete sentence.

Cup cake · Answer

OK, that's interesting.

Maybe it's a stylistic thing.

Thanks Mr. M.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Cup cake'The process only uses special effects...' [...] 'The process uses only especial effects...'

In the first, 'only' modifies 'uses' which is not the meaning that is to be conveyed. In the second, 'only' modifies 'special effects, which is correct.

Having said that, I have to admit that many native speakers would say the first.

Cup cake · Answer

Thanks fivejedjon.

Gosh...I rarely think about 'modification'. I guess I should start doing so.

Happy Saturday night.

Anonymous · Answer

Cup cakeI rarely think about 'modification

This is from English Grammar by Brian Phythian:

"Position of adverbs

Consider the following:

(i) Only the bridegroom hired a suit for the wedding.
(ii) The bridegroom only hired a suit for the wedding.
(iii) The bridegroom hired only a suit for the wedding.
(iv) The bridegroom hired a suit only for the wedding.

Only occupies a different position in each sentence. What difference of meaning is conveyed by the different position of only?

In the first sentence, the sense is that only the bridegroom (and no-one else) hired a suit. The second sentence means that he only hired (i.e. he did not buy, beg, borrow, steal, etc.) a suit. The third states that he hired only a suit (and nothing else, such as shoes or shirt). The fourth means that he hired a suit only for the wedding (and not for honeymoon or any other event).

Clearly, placing of a word in a sentence can have considerable importance. The adverb should be placed as closely as possible to the word or or group of words it qualifies, so as to avoid ambiguity or clumsiness. There is no objection to looseness in colloquial speech, where the tone of voice can help to suggest the intended meaning. Nor can there be any serious objection to such uses as He only came yesterday, which is perfectly clear, even though the perfectionist would prefer the more exact He came only yesterday. But there are occasions when the order of words is very significant, and the user of English would do well to cultivate precision and logic."

Cup cake · Answer

Great examples Anonymous.

Thank you.

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