This week we answer a question we received from Nurfidhea in Indonesia.
Question:
“What is the difference
between JUST and ONLY? How and when should I use them? Thank you" -
Nurfidhea, Makassar, Indonesia
between:
entre; should I use them: debería usarlos;
Answer: Dear Nurfidhea, Thank you for writing to
us. This is an interesting set of words because when used as adverbs,
they seem to mean the same thing. Here are some examples:
writing
to us: escribirnos (IMPORTANTE:
writing us
no es correcto; WRITE lleva la preposición TO antes de un
pronombre objetivo); set of words: grupo de palabras; when used as:
cuando se las utiliza como; they seem to mean the same thing: aparentan
tener el mismo significado;
There is just enough
time to listen to one more song or
There is only enough
time to listen to one more song.
there is
just (only) enough time: queda el tiempo justo; to listen to one more
song: para escuchar una canción más (IMPORTANTE:
listen one more song
no es correcto; LISTEN lleva la preposición TO antes de un
pronombre objetivo) ;
She was just a baby
when she came to America or
She was only a baby
when she came to America.
she was
just (only) a baby: ella era apenas una beba;
I have just one
brother or
I have only one
brother.
I have
just (only) one brother: sólo tengo un hermano / tengo solamente
(exactamente) un hermano;
But that is not always
true. We will look at the times when you must choose one and not the other.
that is not
always true: eso no siempre es verdadero; we will look at the times when:
analizaremos las veces que; you must choose: debes elegir;
JUST
JUST can mean “merely,”
“barely” or “exactly.” It is also used to describe a time in the recent past, or
a simple truth. Here are some examples where you can use JUST while ONLY would be incorrect.
merely:
simplemente, solamente; barely: apenas, escasamente, casi; exactly:
exactamente; a time in the recent past: un momento en el pasado reciente;
a simple truth: una verdad común y corriente; while ONLY would be
incorrect: mientras que el uso de ONLY sería incorrecto;
(1)
I just made tea. Would you like a cup?
Acabo de
preparar té. ¿Quieres una taza?
Here JUST means "recently".
When you want to say “recently” you should always use JUST.
here JUST
means "recently": aquí JUST significa "recién";
(2)
She lives just north of the city center.
Ella vive
apenas (un poco) al norte del centro urbano.
Here it means "barely".
here it means
"barely": aquí (JUST) significa "apenas";
(3) He just does not have enough talent to sing in the opera.
he just does
not have enough talent to: no tiene suficiente talento para;
Here it is a simple truth.
here it
is a simple truth: aquí (JUST) expresa una verdad común y corriente;
ONLY
The adverb ONLY comes from the word “one” and means “alone,” or “with no others.” A good way to think
of this word is that it describes a unique, or singular,
situation. Here are some sentences where you can only use the word ONLY.
comes from
the word "one": deriva de la palabra "uno"; and means "alone" or "with no
others": y significa "a solas", "aisladamente" o "sin otras personas"; a
good way: una buena forma; to think of this word: de analizar esta
palabra (IMPORTANTE: to
think this word no es
correcto; THINK lleva la preposición OF (o ABOUT) delante
de un sustantivo); a unique, or singular, situation: una situación
exclusiva o singular; where you can only use ONLY: en las que solamente
puedes usar ONLY;
(1) The gym is only for
women.
El gimnasio es (de
uso) exclusivo para mujeres.
(2) We will go home only
if it starts to rain.
Nos iremos a casa
solamente si empieza a llover.
(3) I love only you.
Te amo solamente a
ti.
AND NOW...
JUST A TIP
A good way to remember the
difference is to use ONLY for a special or single thing, and JUST for exact
ideas and recent events.
I hope this is just the answer you sought! I’m Jill Robbins.
and now... just a
tip: y ahora... una sugerencia; is to use ONLY for a special or single
thing: es usar ONLY para algo especial o único; and JUST for exact ideas
and recent events: y (usar) JUST para ideas exactas y eventos recientes;
just the answer you sought: justo la respuesta que buscabas (to seek /
sought / sought / seeking).