Everyday English 19-12-2025

Using "Only" Correctly – Quiz

Place only Near the Word You Want to Limit

Short Explanation

Only is a focusing adverb: it limits or restricts meaning. The part of the sentence that comes immediately after only is the part that is limited.

So, to make your meaning clear, place “only” directly before the word or phrase you want to emphasize or limit.

Example 1:

Only Sarah spoke to the teacher. = Nobody except Sarah spoke.

Sarah only spoke to the teacher. = She did nothing else (did not write, did not text), she just spoke.

Sarah spoke only to the teacher. = She spoke to the teacher, not to anyone else.

Example 2:

Only I eat breakfast at 7. = Nobody else eats at 7.

I only eat breakfast at 7. = I don’t do anything else at 7, I just eat.

I eat breakfast only at 7. = I don’t eat breakfast at any other time.

Example 3:

Only he passed the test. = No other person passed.

He only passed the test. = He did nothing more than pass (maybe he didn’t get a prize, etc.).

He passed only the test. = He didn’t pass any other exam.

True / False Quiz – Using “Only”

Decide if each sentence uses only in a natural and clear way (True) or if it is confusing / wrong (False).

1. Only Maria passed the exam. (We mean: Maria was the only person who passed.)

2. Maria only passed the exam. (We want to say: Maria was the only person who passed.)

3. I only drink tea in the morning. (We mean: I don’t drink coffee, juice, etc., in the morning.)

4. I drink only tea in the morning. (We mean: tea is the only drink I have in the morning.)

5. He only speaks to his manager on Mondays. (We mean: he doesn’t email or text, he just speaks.)

6. He speaks only to his manager on Mondays. (We mean: he doesn’t speak to other people on Mondays.)

7. Only yesterday I finished the report. (We want to say: I finished the report yesterday, not earlier.)

8. I finished the report only yesterday. (We mean: I finished it yesterday, not before.)

9. She only works on Saturdays. (We mean: she doesn’t work on other days.)

10. Only she called the customer. (We mean: nobody else called the customer.)

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