Focusing adverbials

These adverbials ‘point to’ one part of a clause.

Examples

also, just, even, only, mainly, mostly, either, or, neither, nor

They often go in mid-position.

• Your bicycle just needs some oil – that’s all.
• She neither said ‘Thank you’ nor looked at me.
• He’s been everywhere – he’s even been to Antarctica.
• We’re only going for two days.
• She’s my teacher, but she’s also my friend.
• The people at the meeting were mainly scientists.

Some of these adverbials can also go in other places in a clause, directly before the words they modify. For details, see the entries on each adverbial.

• Only you could do a thing like that.
• I feel really tired.