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Sarvan_ef Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

Usage of ONLY

I'd like to know the all possible usages of ONLY. Kindly look at the following examples:

I had only invited them for the dinner
I only had invited them for the dinner

Like the above two sentences, I am always bit hesitant to use ONLY in spoken. I hope, the place of ONLY matters here.

What I really want to know is not only the above two, but also more about ONLY.

Kindly suggest me to get rid of ONLY.

Thanks in advance.
Sarvan AL
  

Top answer

With regard to your sentences: #1-- I had only invited them for the dinner = I did not invite them for any other activity. #2-- I only had invited them for the dinner -- this is awkward placement, but the meaning is the same as #1 #3-- Only I had invited them for the dinner = no one else invited them. #4-- I had invited them only for the dinner = the same as #1 #5-- I had invited them for the dinner only = the same as #1 All the possible usages of only is a very broad topic, Sarvan.

— Mister Micawber

  • With regard to your sentences: #1-- I had only invited them for the dinner = I did not invite them for any other activity.
  • #2-- I only had invited them for the dinner -- this is awkward placement, but the meaning is the same as #1 #3-- Only I had invited them for the dinner = no one else invited them.
  • #4-- I had invited them only for the dinner = the same as #1 #5-- I had invited them for the dinner only = the same as #1 All the possible usages of only is a very broad topic, Sarvan.
  • Here are OneLook Dictionary's quick definitions: Quick definitions ( only ) adjective : exclusive of anyone or anything else ( Example: "I'll have this car and this car only" ) adverb : with nevertheless the final result ( Example: "He arrived only to find his wife dead" ) adverb : in the final outcome ( Example: "These news will only make you more upset" ) adverb : as recently as ( Example: "I spoke to him only an hour ago" ) adverb : except that ( Example: "Only this time she came out better" ) adverb : never except when ( Example: "Call me only if your cold gets worse" ) adverb : and nothing more ( Example: "He was only a child" ) adverb : without any others being included or involved ( Example: "A privilege granted only to him" )
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8 Answers
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With regard to your sentences:

#1-- I had only invited them for the dinner = I did not invite them for any other activity.
#2-- I only had invited them for the dinner -- this is awkward placement, but the meaning is the same as #1
#3-- Only I had invited them for the dinner = no one el
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Hi, dear Mister. Could u explain to me what the example "Only this time she came out better" means?

By looking it up in the dictionary, I came up with the presumptioin that "Only this time she came out better in a photo"

I await ur kind clarification.

Tks

Vincent
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Could be. What's the rest of the sentence, Vincent? I need a little context.
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Thanks TMister Micawber.

Only I had invited them for the dinner = no one else invited them.
This is what I am looking for.
The explanation "no one else invited them" is very nice.

Only I am going there.
Only I did the work.

I hope, the above two are also valid.

Thanks once aga
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Only I am going there.
Only I did the work.

Yes, that's right, Sarvan-- no one else is going there or did the work.

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0Just one more question about it, I'd like to know if the three sentences are grammatically correct and if I change their meanings.02br
02br
01font00I 01b00only 02b00drink milk02br
00I drink 01b00only 02b00milk02br
00I drink milk 01b00only02b02font02
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The only beauty remains for ever is that of nature

The beauty remains for ever is only of nature

Which of these is correct ??
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Neither is correct. I suppose that you mean this:

The only beauty that endures forever is that of nature.
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