Correct Usage of The Adverb ONLY

Correct Usage of The Adverb ONLY :



An Adverb is placed first in a sentence…

(a) When it is intended to qualify the whole sentence…

(b) When it is used very emphatically…

1. Luckily no one was inside when the roof fell in.
2. Down went the Royal George with all her crew complete. (Cowper)

ONLY

The meaning of a sentence depends upon the position of this word.

. (a) Only he promised to read the first chapter of that book.

Here ONLY qualifies the Pronoun HE. He alone, and no one else, promised to read the first chapter.

(b) He only promised to read the first chapter of that book.

Here ONLY is an Adverb qualifying the Verb PROMISED and the meaning is that he merely or only promised, but did not keep the promise.

(c) He promised only to read the first chapter of that book.

That is…he did not promise to study, analyse or remember, but only to read. Here ONLY is an Adverb qualifying the Verb READ.

(d) He promised to read only the first chapter of that book.

That is….he promised to read nothing more than the first chapter. Here ONLY is an Adverb qualifying the Adjective THE FIRST.

(e) He promised to read the first chapter of that book only (or only of that book).

That is…he promised to read the first chapter of no other book but that. Here ONLY is an Adverb qualifying the phrase OF THAT BOOK.

Double Negative

A sentence which is intended, not to affirm, but to deny something, must contain only one word or phrase to express the denial. If two negatives are used, the second destroys the effect of the first and makes the sentence affirmative. Thus not unworthy of a prize means worthy of a prize.

1. He is not unworthy of prizes. (Incorrect)
2. He is unworthy of prizes. (Correct)

1. I cannot walk no further today. (Incorrect)
2. I cannot walk any further today. (Correct)

1. That will not stop him…nothing never did. (Incorrect)
2. That will not stop him…nothing ever did. (Correct)

1. I forbade you not to enter this room. (Incorrect)
2. I forbade you to enter this room. (Correct)

1. I was not idle neither. (Incorrect)
2. I was not idle either. (Correct)

1. I don't want nothing. (Incorrect)
2. I don't want anything. (Correct)

1. I can’t find my keys nowhere. (Incorrect)
2. I can’t find my keys anywhere. (Correct)

RELATED PAGES :

1. Correct Usage of Nouns
   
2. Correct Usage of Pronouns
   
3. Correct Usage of Verbs
   
4. Correct Usage of Adverbs
   
5. Correct Usage of The Conjunctions
   
6. Correct Usage of The Adverbs - MUCH and VERY
   
7. Correct Usage of The Adverbs - LITTLE and A LITTLE
   
8. Correct Usage of The Adverbs - YES and NO
   
9. Correct Usage of The Adverb - TOO
   
10. Correct Usage of The Adverb - ENOUGH
    
11. Correct Usage of The Adverb - SINCE
    
12. Correct Usage of The Adverb - AGO
    
13. Correct Usage of The Adverb - BEFORE
    
14. Correct Usage of The Adverb - ALREADY
    
15. Correct Usage of The Adverb - THERE
    
16. Correct Usage of The Adverb - ELSE
    
17. Correct Usage of The Adverb - NEVER
    
18. Correct Usage of The Adverb - QUITE
    
19. Correct Usage of AT and IN
    
20. Correct Usage of WITH and BY
    
21. Correct Usage of BETWEEN and AMONG
    
22. Correct Usage of BESIDE and BESIDES
    
23. Correct Usage of IN and INTO
    
24. Correct Usage of IN and WITHIN
    
25. Correct Usage of SINCE and FROM
    

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