It seems that it wouldn’t be that difficult to use two small words when and how you’d like. But that’s not necessarily true, especially when it comes to English grammar, which is notoriously complex. Even native speakers of the English language can struggle with grammar, and one reason is because English has a huge vocabulary with ever-shifting rules.
It’s no wonder that ESL students can’t just pick it up in one English lesson: it takes a while to learn all the intricacies of the language, and one example is with the English words just and only. These are two common and important words you should know regardless of why you’re studying English: for school, travel, business English, or otherwise.
In this article we’ll go over just and only, explain the differences between the two, and provide some examples of how to use each.
What is the difference between ‘just’ and ‘only’?
The words ‘just’ and ‘only’ are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct uses: ‘just’ can indicate a recent action or emphasize a minimal amount, while ‘only’ restricts or limits the scope of a statement. For example, ‘just’ can mean ‘very recently’ as in ‘I just finished’, whereas ‘only’ limits, as in ‘I only have one’.
Exploring the nuances between ‘just’ and ‘only’
While these two words are very similar and often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences: just is often used to discuss something that happened a short time ago (“it just happened a moment ago”) but only cannot be used in this way. In most other use cases you can replace “just” and “only” without changing the meaning.
Using the Word Just
This word has a few different meanings.
1. Very recently; in the immediate past
Examples:
- Be careful – I’ve just washed the floor, and it’s still wet.
- We just finished a big project.
2. Only
Examples:
- I have just one brother. = I have only one brother.
- I thought you were hungry, but you ate just half of your lunch.
Using the Word Only
In most cases, the word only can be replaced by the word just.
Examples:
- Only/Just two students came to class on Monday.
- My kids only/just use the internet for schoolwork, not for playing games.
When using the phrase “if only,” the word “just” can be used if the sentence structure is changed slightly.
Examples:
- If only he had studied harder, he would have passed the test.
- If he had just studied harder, he would have passed the test.
The words only and just are interchangeable if the meaning is “only,” but not if the meaning is “very recently; in the immediate past.”
The meaning for “only” is often the same as the meaning for “just.”
Examples:
- We have just one son.
- We have only one son.
The meaning “very recently; in the immediate past” cannot be applied to both words:
- I’ve just washed the floor (a few minutes ago).
- I only washed the floor (and I didn’t wash the table).
Nevertheless, it all depends on the context.
- Did you eat all the cakes? – No, I just/only ate one.
In the following sentence, we cannot use only instead of just:
- Why is the floor wet? – Because I’ve just washed it.
Word Order When Using Just and Only
When we use just and only, word order is very important:
I’ve just had two pieces of pizza. (= I have recently eaten two pieces of pizza)
I’ve had just two pieces of pizza. (= I’ve eaten only two pieces of pizza, not 3 or 4 or 5)
Watch this video and explanation about the difference between just and only in English.
I hope that you now understand when to use each word.
If there is something you still don’t understand, please ask.
Further Insights & Related Reads – Grammar-Based Word Comparisons
Loved this article? Explore more fascinating advanced English vocabulary here!
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It’s only English! Have fun!
Feeling inspired? Check out our guide on how to learn English.
