Scope Adverbs 只, 就, 一共, 到处, 一块儿

Structure

subject + 只/就/一共/到处/一块儿 + verb (…); 就 + noun (spoken “only”)

Scope adverbs sit right before the verb: 只 limits it, 一共 adds it up, 到处 spreads it everywhere.

我只会说一点儿汉语。

When to use Scope Adverbs 只, 就, 一共, 到处, 一块儿

只 means “only” and goes right before the verb, never after it: 我只喝了一杯. 就 can mean the same “only” in speech, and unlike 只 it can also come straight before a noun or number: 就他一个人没来 “he’s the only one who didn’t come”. If 就 is followed by a verb, context decides between “only” and “then”, so use 只 when you want to be clear.

早上我只喝了一杯牛奶。

I only had a glass of milk this morning.

我身上就五十块钱。

I’ve only got fifty yuan on me.

就他一个人没来。

He’s the only one who didn’t come.

这些一共多少钱？

How much are these altogether?

Pièges courants

Put 只 before the verb: 我只喝了一杯, not 我喝了只一杯.
For “only he knows”, say 只有他知道 or 就他知道; 他只知道 means “he only knows”.
到处 goes before the verb: 他到处找钥匙, not 他找钥匙到处.

Exercice ciblé

Entraînez-vous sur ce schéma exact avant de continuer.

我买了一张票，没买别的

Je n’ai acheté qu’un billet, rien d’autre

zhǐ

Sens

only, just

Tapez le texte manquant, puis appuyez sur Entrée

When to use Scope Adverbs 只, 就, 一共, 到处, 一块儿

Pièges courants

Exercice ciblé

Gardez ce schéma en révision.