Tuesday 31 May 2011

When should we use the word 'ONLY' in our sentences?

Are these sentences correct?

1. ONLY I hit him in the eye yesterday.
2. I ONLY hit him in the eye yesterday.
3. I hit ONLY him in the eye yesterday.
4. I hit him ONLY in the eye yesterday.
5. I hit him in ONLY the eye yesterday.
6. I hit him in the ONLY eye yesterday.
7. I hit him in the eye ONLY yesterday.
8. I hit him in the eye yesterday ONLY.

The answer:
All of those sentences are correct.  Each one of them carries a different meaning as per below;

1. ONLY I hit him in the eye yesterday. (No one else did.)
2. I ONLY hit him in the eye yesterday. (Did not slap him.)
3. I hit ONLY him in the eye yesterday. (I did not hit others.)
4. I hit him ONLY in the eye yesterday. (I did not hit outside the eye.)
5. I hit him in ONLY the eye yesterday. (Not other organs.)
6. I hit him in the ONLY eye yesterday. (He doesn’t have another eye.)
7. I hit him in the eye ONLY yesterday. (Not today.)
8. I hit him in the eye yesterday ONLY. (Did not wait for today.)

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