Is the placement of the word "only" correct in the sentence below? If not, where should it be?
Berlin is such a big city that we saw only a fraction of it.
-
1Only can go immediately before its focus element (here a fraction), or immediately before any constituent containing the focus. Here that means immediately before a fraction, and immediately before saw only a fraction of it, too, since that verb phrase contains the noun phrase focus. – John Lawler May 30 '17 at 19:44
-
You have one more option, to place 'only' at the end: "...saw a fraction of it, only." That use modifies 'fraction,' only. – Yosef Baskin May 30 '17 at 21:12
-
Possible duplicate of position of "only' and Correct position of "only". – Sven Yargs May 30 '17 at 23:13
Where it is, the word only refers to fraction. If you moved it between we and saw, it would apply to saw:
Berlin is such a big city that we only saw a fraction of it.
In general use, people would get the same meaning, but it isn't, in my opinion, pointing out the fraction as strongly. That is, only a fraction says that you didn't get to see all of it better than we only saw.
But, both are correct and probably equal -- any differences in interpretation would likely be on the reader's part, not the writer's.
answered May 30 '17 at 19:23
