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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

only yesterday

The phrase ‘only yesterday’ seems to mean ‘no earlier than yesterday,’ like (a), but can I use it like (b), ?
(a) ‘When did you e-mail her?’ ‘Only yesterday.’
(b) John was absent five days during this week, but Mary was absent only yesterday.

Koji from Japan
  

Top answer

Anonymous The phrase ‘only yesterday’ seems to mean ‘no earlier than yesterday,’ It could, but 'only' is an adjective that here primarily injects a feeling of insufficiency. ’ That suggests that the time past was very short, perhaps too short for a response or other effect. Anonymous (b) John was absent five days during this week, but Mary was absent only yesterday.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous The phrase ‘only yesterday’ seems to mean ‘no earlier than yesterday,’ It could, but 'only' is an adjective that here primarily injects a feeling of insufficiency.
  • ’ That suggests that the time past was very short, perhaps too short for a response or other effect.
  • Anonymous (b) John was absent five days during this week, but Mary was absent only yesterday.
  • That is another (and more usual) meaning of 'only': 'no other', 'solely'.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousThe phrase ‘only yesterday’ seems to mean ‘no earlier than yesterday,’
It could, but 'only' is an adjective that here primarily injects a feeling of insufficiency.
Anonymous(a) ‘When did you e-mail her?’ ‘Only yesterday.’
That suggests that the time past was very short, perhaps too short for a response or other effe
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Thank you very much for very useful information, Mister Micawber.
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