Working togetherCategory: QuestionsDifference – Just & Only
sally asked 8 years ago

Question for all learners????
Can someone explain the difference between just and only?
How do you to use these words ?

Teacher46 replied 8 years ago

The word ‘just’ has several meanings, and one of them is exactness of measurement, time, and other things, It can also mean ‘happening at this or that moment”I will give you examples to demonstrate the sense of exactness

She looks just like her sister(exactness)
Your shoes are just my size(exactness)
What are you doing? I am just reading(At the moment, I am reading)

The word ‘only’ is used when we have a single choice in connection with people and things. For example:

1) This gym is for women only(One option)
2)We can only guess(no other option)

Sometimes, just and only can be interchangeable, but you can express your mood clearly, Keep in mind that ‘just is softer and ‘only’ is a bit sterner.

I just came to ask about your health(polite)
I only came to ask about your health(complain or stress)

1 Answers
ALaa Esmail answered 8 years ago

they both are adverbs but just means “exactly” and only means “recently” and there is many differences 

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