[only/still] 3 pages to go

Let's suppose you're reading a book for work. Just three more pages and you're done!

Could you tell us how to say it (a) when you positively think there are only three pages to go and (b) when you negatively think there are still three pages to go?

I think (1) works for (a) and that (2) is good for (b).

(1) I have [only / no more than] three pages to read.

(2) I have to read [no less than / as much as] three pages.

Do you agree?

Thank you in advance

Seiichi MYOGA

Possibly, but no more than, no less than, and as much as are expressions used to subjectivize and express a feeling about how large or small a number is. Unfortunately, being emotional about a number, in these expressions, doesn't tell us what that emotion is, only that we are gripped by how many or how few, as opposed to being nonplussed.

Your thread title is more natural for both.

Emphasize how few: only 3
Emphasize how many: still 3

You'll hear people saying those more often than your other suggestions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barb_D

Your thread title is more natural for both.

Emphasize how few: only 3
Emphasize how many: still 3

You'll hear people saying those more often than your other suggestions.

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Possibly the neutral one would be: three more pages.

Dear konungursvia, Barb_D and engee30,

I appreciate your help and comments.

Actually, my sentences are all based on Swiggers' General Linguistics.
For the case of "quantity approved, zero-limit approved," they give us this sentence:
I have only [no more than] 3 pages [still] to read.

Elsewhere, they say "only" and "still" are implications, and even if we omit them, the sentences they've given there are perfectly acceptable.

So, I was wondering if the same applied. Unfortunately, however, they are just for explanation and understanding.

Thank you, again
Seiichi MYOGA