Confusing English Words – just / only

بسیاری از کلمات وجود دارند که معنی یکسانی دارند، اما در واقع تعاریف و کاربردهای مختلفی دارند.
شما می خواهید درست صحبت کنید و از به کار بردن کلمات نادرست خودداری کنید، اما در مورد معنی دقیق و کاربرد هر کلمه کاملا مطمئن نیستید.
بعضی از زبان آموزان حتی به دلیل تردیدهایشان از به کار بردن کلمات خودداری می کنند!
هدف ما در این سری از پست ها روشن کردن رایج ترین کلمات گیج کننده در انگلیسی است.

just / only

:The word “just” has several possible definitions

Recently

Be careful – I just washed the floor, and it’s still wet. (= I washed the floor a few minutes ago)
He just finished a big project. (= he finished the project very recently)

Only

I have just one brother. (= I have only one brother)
I thought you were hungry, but you ate just half of your sandwich. (= you ate only half of your sandwich, and no more)

:The word only can be replaced with “just” in most situations

.Only two students came to class on the day before Christmas. = Just two students came to class on the day before Christmas
.My kids only use the internet for schoolwork, not for playing games. = My kids just use the internet for schoolwork, not for playing games

:In the expression “If only…” you can use “just” if you change the structure a little bit

.If only I had studied harder. I would’ve passed the test. = If I had just studied harder, I would’ve passed the test

.Only and just are interchangeable with definition 2 of “just,” but not with definition 1

Definition 2 – Same meaning

.We have just one daughter. = We have only one daughter

Definition 1 – Different meanings

I just washed the floor (a few minutes ago)
I only washed the floor (and I didn’t wash the table or anything else)

:Whether just means recently or only depends on the context

?Did you clean the whole house
.No, I just washed the floor. (= I only washed the floor)

?Why is the floor wet
Because I just washed it. (= I recently washed it. In this case, you can’t use “only”)

:When you use just with a verb, the word order matters

I just ate two pieces of pizza. ( = I recently ate two pieces of pizza)
I ate just two pieces of pizza. ( = I ate only two pieces, not 3 or 4 or 5)
I just bought a new book. (= I recently bought a new book)
I bought just one new book. (= I bought only one new book, not two or more)