Just vs. Only - Are They the Same? | Go Natural English

115,787 views ・ 2020-01-02

Go Natural English


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

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Hi, it's me Gabi from gonaturalenglish.com
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A lot of English lessons will tell you that just and only can be used interchangeably
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But that is only
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Partly true. They're not giving you the full story
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share what native speakers know lots of collocation and idiomatic phrases that we can only use
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with only or
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Just and then at the end, I'll give you a quiz to test your understanding. So did you know that
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only can mean just but just doesn't always mean only. I don't know if that sounds a little confusing.
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So we're gonna talk about it in this English lesson
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Now if you're ready to improve your fluency and your confidence then buckle up because this is going to be a good one
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I started researching the difference between just and only and even I was surprised at
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How we use them so differently in the English language as native speakers use them in collocation
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Which means words that we always use together kind of like friends or partners and in idiomatic phrases
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Which may not make sense when you think about the literal meaning of the word but native speakers know what they mean
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so as I mentioned just
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Can mean only but only cannot
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Always mean just it sometimes means just but it doesn't always mean just that means that just has a lot more
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uses than only.
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So just and only can both mean simply and we can use them interchangeably when we mean
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simply but let me share some of the other ways we can use just and only
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By the way, if you do enjoy this free English lesson
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You should know that I have a complete English course and you can join the wait list to learn more and get a notification
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when registration opens again at gonaturalenglish.com
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slash pre
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Just and only have five different meanings each
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just means
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Exactly, for example, that's just what I needed. That's exactly what I needed. Now notice that I can't use only here
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I can't say that's only what I needed. It just doesn't have the same meaning
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only on the other hand means solely or
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Exclusively. There are only a few tickets left
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Here I could use just there are just a few tickets left and it has the same meaning just can mean recently for example
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she's just arrived meaning she's recently arrived only can also mean recently for example it was
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only discovered last year
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We can also use just in this sentence
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It was just discovered last year just can mean barely or by a little for example
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go natural English just has under two million subscribers now on YouTube, but only
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Can mean something negative like more money will only bring more
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Problems we can use just here instead of only more money
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We'll just bring more problems, but we can't use only instead of just in my previous example
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I couldn't say go natural English has only under two million subscribers. That is incorrect
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Just can mean simply. For example, I
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just
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drink black coffee. I don't take cream or sugar here.
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I can actually use only I only drink black coffee
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As I mentioned before just and only can both mean simply
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But I'm talking about some different uses of just and only right now all I can mean
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single or
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Alone in its kind for example true story
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I have only ever run one full marathon. I could also use just in the sentence
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I've only ever just run one full marathon and it has the same meaning
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Just can be emphasis
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Like you're just great kind of like so or really but I cannot use only in this way
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I can't say you are only great. It just doesn't really mean the same thing only can be a conjunction
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for example, you just
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started learning English only
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you sound fluent because you're so confident kind of like but or however or nevertheless. We use only as a
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conjunction in this way often in everyday conversation.
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It's a bit casual and we don't use it as much in writing, but it's possible to use it both in your
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conversation and in writing. Now one more really interesting use of just is that we use it as a
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softener to make our questions or our sentences more polite.
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For example if you come over to my home
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I might say
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Just help yourself to anything you like or if you're eating dinner with me at my home
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I could say just have as much as you would like so we can use it to be friendly or
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polite or if you're asking a question
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Could I just ask you a question? It's not necessary to use just but we add it as a
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softener. Now
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You might have noticed that we use just a lot in everyday
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spoken English and that's why because we use it as a softener and we use it often to mean
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so much or really to add emphasis
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For example, you're just beautiful or you're just so smart. We can even use so and just
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together in the same sentence
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So again, we can use just and only in the same sentence with the same meaning when we mean simply. For example, you can improve your English in just 15 minutes a day
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Or you can improve your English in only 15 minutes a day, and they really mean the same thing simply
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However, let's look at a different example if I say I just want to talk to you for a few minutes
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It's like a softener
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I am using this to be a bit more polite and make a softer request. That doesn't sound as
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demanding or harsh, but if I say I only want to talk to you for a few minutes
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It doesn't sound as polite an emphasis is more on the limitation of the time
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I'm really emphasizing that this will only take a few minutes and again, it doesn't sound as
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Polite of course, it's not rude to say only but if you wanted to sound more polite
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I would suggest using just now. Let's look at one other example
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Let's just study for 15 minutes means let's give it a try
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Let's only study for 15 minutes really puts that emphasis on the limitation of time
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So I don't want to study any longer than 15 minutes and I could make this sentence with neither
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Let's study for 15 minutes, and it's just straightforward
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There's no kind of
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softener with just there's no kind of
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emphasis on the limitation of time with only so just to recap the meanings just can mean
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exactly
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recently
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Barely or just a little bit
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simply it can be used for emphasis or as a
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softener to add politeness to your sentences or questions only
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Means solely
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exclusively
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recently to introduce a negative or
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unfortunate result to mean single or alone in its kind and as a conjunction like but or however
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Now I would like to share some collocation and idiomatic phrases using only we're going to go quickly
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But I highly suggest that you try repeating these after me to practice your English speaking. Now
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these are phrases that are commonly used in everyday English conversation
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so trust me when I say that you should know these because you're probably going to hear them if you speak English
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long enough with native speakers.
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So here we go with idiomatic phrases and collocations with only I only have one pair of
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hands means that I can only do so much by myself . A face that only a mother could love means
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Not a very good-looking face. It's only a question of time
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meaning that something is
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Inevitable and it will happen after enough time. For example global warming is only a question of time
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Beauty is only skin-deep
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meaning that it's important to be beautiful on the inside and outside for your eyes only
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think about those private texts photo
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Messages that you might send to someone that you don't want the whole internet seeing that would be for your eyes only
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The Lord only knows or god only knows this is an expression or an exclamation
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That we use when we are dumbfounded and really don't know what to say
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Oh, the Lord only knows why that boy wears his pants. So low
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Only child I do not have any siblings. So I am an only child Yolo or you only live once
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means that you should take advantage of your life because you never know when it is the end. Cash only means that only
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cash money paper bills are accepted if
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only when you have a dream or a wish and you might say oh if only I had more money or if
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only I were famous
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So it's when you're introducing some kind of desire not
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only this but that so not only are you smart
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but you're also beautiful to only have eyes for like when you're
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infatuated in love with one person and a
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beautiful woman or a handsome man could walk by and you wouldn't even notice because you only have eyes for
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Your true love he's not the only fish in the sea or she's not the only fish in the sea
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means that well
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There are other possible partners for you. Only too glad
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For example if I'm at a party and I'm tired and I just want to go home. I would be only too glad
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when my friends say hey, are you ready to go one?
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and only when you say one and only and really emphasizes one like this is my one and only
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chance I could say this is my one chance, but I'm really emphasizing it here. This is my one and only chance
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Standing room only means that
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The place is very crowded. Perhaps a live concert and there are no seats
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So you will be expected to stand. You're only as old as you feel
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This is a common phrase meaning that really youth is in your mindset to be second to none
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Means you are the best to be second only to something or someone means that
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You are really really good maybe in second place for something, but there is one other thing or person
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Above you in ranking.
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The only way to go means that there is only one logical option and if you're out shopping and
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A store clerk asked you can I help you find anything? You might say
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I'm only looking. Now
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this one is a great segue into phrases using just because we can also say I'm just
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looking and this is a very useful phrase that you can use whenever you're shopping if you
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really don't want to talk with someone working at the store
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If you're just window-shopping and looking around you can say I'm just looking or I'm only looking
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Just do it is a phrase that became popular as the Nike slogan. Just in case
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Bring an umbrella just in case because it might rain just in the knick of time
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Means without much time left. I arrived just in the knick of time.
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I wasn't late, but I was cutting it close
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Just because means there really is no reason so why are you watching this video?
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Is it because you are learning English or just because just because you if you like it?
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I'm just saying is a really common phrase in conversation that it's adding some emphasis to your opinion.
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So for example, your teacher might say you should really study harder
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I'm just saying. So it's to emphasize someone's opinion
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Just around the corner or just ahead means very close or nearby
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You might stop to ask for directions. Where is there a gas station?
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There's a gas station just around the corner or just ahead. Someone asks about your relationship with someone you might say
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We're just good friends. If you say we're just good friends that means that you have no romantic intentions.
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Just along for the ride
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means that you're just going around with your friends or just there for the experience
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You're not really leading in this situation. You're just enjoying the experience
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I'm just along for the ride
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Maybe you go to the mall with your friends and you're not looking to buy anything, but you're just along for the ride
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Not just a pretty face when you see someone who's good-looking, but they also have talents or they're intelligent you might say
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Hey, they're not just a pretty face don't underestimate them. It just so happens
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that means by chance or luckily, for example, if you ask do you have
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Four quarters for a dollar. I might say it just so happens that I do
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Just in time is similar to just in the knick of time
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It means you've arrived with little time to spare. Just my luck means you feel
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unlucky. Oh, no, it's raining. But I wanted to go to the beach. That's just my luck.
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So it's kind of a sad expression, but a little funny too
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Just wondering this is really a softener, but we use it quite often
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I was just wondering if you could tell me what time it is.
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Just off the boat. This is the name of a TV show, but it can also be a kind of expression
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that's a bit derogatory meaning someone who has just
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arrived from another country. I wouldn't recommend
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using it in
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conversation, but you should know what it means
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You just don't get it means you just don't understand. I would just as soon
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means I would prefer I would just as soon still go to the beach even though it's raining
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Just between you and me means I'm telling you a secret just between you and me
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This is a really good English lesson, just for the heck of it means just to have fun. Why not?
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There's no reason not to do this thing. So hey just for the heck of it. Let's go to the beach today
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Why not? Just the thing I know just the thing that you would enjoy let me share it with you
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It's just a question of time. We can also use this with only it's only a question of time meaning something that is
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inevitable that will probably happen as time passes. We just don't know how long it will take
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So English fluency is just a question of time and effort. Could just as well
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means that I could do something else.
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So maybe we were planning to go to the beach
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But it's raining so I could just as well go to a movie today.
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Life is just a bowl full of cherries is an expression
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that means the life is just wonderful had just as soon so it's raining
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We're not going to the beach you just as soon stay inside and study today
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I just have a feeling so it's giving some emphasis here
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I just have a feeling that it's gonna be sunny later today. So we should still go to the beach
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Just ask, I want to encourage you to ask a question. I might say just ask us just ask me anything.
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Just wait and see
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So just be patience
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and we will see time will tell just a minute.
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so if you want someone to
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wait instead of saying please wait
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you could say just a minute or just a second if you've ever had someone knock on the door when you are in a public
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Restroom you would respond with this if you're inside just a minute
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Just another day at the office is an expression. That means I'm at work. This is my normal work environment
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Just my cup of tea. It means something that I enjoy this beautiful weather is just my cup of tea.
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Just for the record means you're giving some information that you want to share with someone just for the record
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I like my coffee black
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So if you ever make coffee for me now, you know, it just goes to show is when you're sharing some information
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Some opinion like it just goes to show that sometimes you have to change your plans
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Depending on the weather. Just let me say if you're
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Interrupting or interjecting your opinion you could use this. Just let me say and then you share your opinion.
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Just let me say that you're doing a great job
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It's just one of those things when you're not really sure what to say. This is a great phrase to keep in your English
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toolkit, it's just one of those things.
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Just the facts means that you're giving some information that is not just your opinion, but it is true
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It's just the facts. Also if you don't want any extra information, you want someone to get straight to the point
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you could say just the facts, please just the tip of the iceberg means. This is only the beginning just whistling Dixie
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Means someone who is just joking around. They're not serious. Some people just don't know when to quit
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means that some people just do too much and they don't know when they should stop. It's just as well that
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So when something doesn't go the way that you want it to go, you might say this
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Oh, it's just as well that it's raining because I needed to get some work done today. Just a stone's throw away
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means when something is very close to you, where's the gas station? It's just a stone's throw away.
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Just the same, just the same means that it makes no difference.
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So do you want to drink coffee or tea? It's just the same. Well, it's raining today
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We're not going to the beach. It's just the same. It doesn't matter
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it's not that important. Just as long as means provided that. So for example
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we can go to the beach today, just as long as we study first just as long as we get our work done first
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just what the doctor ordered
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Means something that makes you feel good
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Oh this apple pie is just what the doctor ordered or this fresh squeezed juice is just what the doctor ordered
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It makes me feel healthier
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Just one job you had just one job is a popular phrase when you mess something
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up and you want to tell someone that they should have been able to do this job.
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But that's just me means it's just my opinion.
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Could just as well or you might as well is a way of giving a suggestion, so it's raining today
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so you might as well just stay at home and get some work done
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Don't that just beat all is a very interesting way to say I can't believe it
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But this is very colloquial, it's very casual just like he's just whistling Dixie
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This is not something that you'll hear all over the United States. It's more regional. It's just about time
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Hey
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It's just about time to finish work
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Means that we're getting close to the time to finish. To just curl up and die means when you feel very embarrassed
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Something embarrassing happened and I just felt like curling up and dying
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But this is an idiomatic phrase. Just fell off the turnip truck.
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So this is not as commonly used . Again it might be regional or a little bit old and people don't use it anymore
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but it means someone who's not very smart.
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Just enough, so this means you have enough and not too much.
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Just now means very recently. Just passing through means you don't live in an area. You're just traveling through in a short amount of time
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amount of time. Just then means like just now but in the past
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So if you're telling a story you might say just then something happens
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That's just the way it goes means that you have to have understanding that sometimes things go
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the way that you don't want them to go but this is just the way it goes. We have to have comprehension.
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All right, that is just about enough of just but this is just only the beginning.
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Can you think of any other phrases or idioms that use just or only tell me in the comments.
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And now, let's test your understanding
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with a quiz. Which word would you use just or only.
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Number one, I have
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$10 which one is best here?
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If you said either one, you're correct.
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We can use just or only I have just 10 doll or I have only $10 because this means
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simply or limited to the amount of $10.
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Two, you have to try harder
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The best answer for this one is you just have to try harder. I'm putting emphasis on
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this phrase by using just. Number 3, I can't believe I lost my keys.
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That's my luck.
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Now we learned about this phrase
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so, you know we should use just that's just my luck. Four, I am a
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child. If you said only, you are right. I'm an only child
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Five, If I
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had a million dollars
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We can use only to talk about desires or wishes
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If only I had a million dollars and six I think
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you should subscribe to go natural English on YouTube.
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If you said just, you're correct.
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I just think you should subscribe to go natural English on Youtube
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and really you should. So, just here is used to emphasize.
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If I said only
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that would be strange because that means I think that you should limit your viewing to only go natural English
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but there are so many great channels out there.
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So, thank you so much for watching.
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I hope you enjoy this lesson on just vs only.
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Let me know in the comment if you have any questions, and I'll see you in another English lesson soon. Bye for now!
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About this website

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