Focus adverbs

7.54 The use of adverbs when 'focusing'

Adverbs such as even just merely only, really and simply can precede the word they qualify to focus attention on it. Others, like too and as well, focus our attention by adding information.

7.55 The position of 'even' and 'only'

The position of some adverbs such as even and only is particularly flexible, conveying slightly different meanings according to where they are placed. A few examples are:

Even Tom knows that 2 and 2 make 4 (i.e. although he's stupid)

Tom even knows that 2 and 2 make 4 (i.e. of the many things he

knows)

Only Tom knows the answer (i.e. nobody else does)

Tom knows only half of it (i.e. nothing else)

Tom only met Helen (i.e no one else)

The pre-verb position of even and only often leads to ambiguity. In the written language we can avoid ambiguity by putting these words before the words they qualify. In the spoken language, this is not necessary (and rarely happens). We rely on stress and intonation: / only asked Jim to lend me his ladder (i.e not anything else)

7.55.1 Other uses of 'only' [compare > 16.12.2] Only + too, in the sense of 'extremely':

I'm only too glad to be of help Only before a verb in explanations and excuses:

/ don't know why you re so angry I only left the door open

7.56 'Too', as well', 'not...either' and 'also'

Too and as well usually go in the end position in the affirmative:

/ like John and I like his wife, too/as well In negative sentences these words are replaced by either.

I don't like John and I don't like his wife either Also, used as a replacement for too and as well, is more common in writing than in speech. It comes:

- after auxiliaries: Sue is an engineer She is also a mother

- after the first verb when there is more than one: / ve written the letters I should also have posted them

- before the main verb: / play squash and I also play tennis

Note in the above example that also generally refers to the verb that follows it (i.e tennis is not the only game I play). Compare / too play tennis which refers to the subject (= My friend plays tennis and I play tennis, too/as well). The use of too, directly after the subject, is formal and the end position is generally preferred, especially in informal speech. Like too and as well, also is not used in negative sentences and must be replaced by not either [compare > 13.28-29].

7 Adverbs