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Position of the words only and even

The word only should be written in front of and next to the word or phrase it modifies.

Compare:

  • Only David may sleep on the bed. (David and nobody else may use the bed.)
  • David may sleep only on the bed. (David may sleep nowhere else.)
  • David may sleep on the only bed. (David may sleep on the only bed there is.)
  • David may only sleep on the bed. (David may sleep – but do nothing else – upon the bed.)
    • Position of the word even

    The word even should be written in front of and next to the word it modifies.

    Read the sentences given below.

  • Even Alice could not see the bird in the picture. (Alice, let alone anyone else, could not see it.)
  • Alice could not even see the bird in the picture. (Alice could not see other things, let alone the bird.)
  • Alice could not see even the bird in the picture. (Alice could not see the bird, let alone the one in the picture.)

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