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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
part of speech of only
"I talked to him for only a short time".
What is the part of speech of only in above sentence. I wonder that "a" is an indefinite article, so if "only" is an adverb, what does it modify for? I'm really confused!
Thank you for your answers!
What is the part of speech of only in above sentence. I wonder that "a" is an indefinite article, so if "only" is an adverb, what does it modify for? I'm really confused!
Thank you for your answers!
Top answer
only is an adverb modifying the adjective short . only a short time = not a long time Note that the adverbs only and not are placed before the determiner. Not *an only short time or *a not long time .
- only is an adverb modifying the adjective short .
- only a short time = not a long time Note that the adverbs only and not are placed before the determiner.
- Not *an only short time or *a not long time .
- very , in contrast, is placed after the determiner: a very short time .
- CJ
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7 Answers
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only is an adverb modifying the adjective short.
only a short time = not a long time
Note that the adverbs only and not are placed before the determiner.
Not *an only short time or *a not long time.
very, in contrast, is placed after the determiner: a very short time.
CJ
only a short time = not a long time
Note that the adverbs only and not are placed before the determiner.
Not *an only short time or *a not long time.
very, in contrast, is placed after the determiner: a very short time.
CJ
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The sentence is, "He only eats fruit."
What part of speech is only?
What part of speech is only?
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It fits definition #1 in the dictionary:
–adverb 1. without others or anything further; alone; solely; exclusively: This information is for your eyes only.
–adverb 1. without others or anything further; alone; solely; exclusively: This information is for your eyes only.
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Only is saying to what extent you talked to him. If the word answers the question, To What Extent?, it is an adverb.
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What part of speech is only in each sentence and how does the position of only change the meaning?
Only he said that he loved linguistics.
He only said that he loved linguistics.
He said only that he loved linguistics.
He said that only he loved linguistics.
He said that he loved linguistics only
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Only in the case mentioned above, modifies the phrase "a short time",, and not the word "a".
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