Just want/want just

[99bottles]

e.g. I just want to let you know this.

Why is just want preferred over want just? Since just modifies what one wants, shouldn't it logically be placed after the verb?

 

[5jj]

Languages were not logically constructed.

 

[teechar]

You may find the explanation in the following link useful.
https://perfectyourenglish.com/grammar/degree-adverbs.htm

 

[jutfrank]

Languages were not logically constructed.

If there's anything in this world that is logically constructed, it's language!

 

[jutfrank]

Why is just want preferred over want just?

Because it's much, much better. In fact, the alternative is basically wrong.

Since just modifies what one wants, shouldn't it logically be placed after the verb?

No. Where did you get that idea from? Look at the position of similar uses of just here:

I just want to tell you something.
I just need to do something first.
I'm just going to pop out.
I've just come to say hi.
I'll just be a minute.

 

[Tdol]

I want just one thing from you....

 

[jutfrank]

I want just one thing from you....

I think this example shows well how this is a very different kind of just.

 

[emsr2d2]

I just want to talk to you > I simply want to talk to you
I want to just talk to you > I want only to talk to you

 

[5jj]

I just want to talk to you > I simply want to talk to you
I want to just talk to you > I want only to talk to you

I think most native speakers would the first three of those as I want to do nothing more than talk to you (i.e. I don't want to fight with you, begin a relationship with you, etc)
The fourth strikes me as a little odd. It could mean I want to do nothing in life except talk to you.

 

[5jj]

If there's anything in this world that is logically constructed, it's language!

An interesting thought.

 

[Tdol]

I think this example shows well how this is a very different kind of just.

And simplistic rules often don't cover complex usage.

 

[5jj]

And simplistic rules often don't cover complex usage.

Or: And simplistic rules don't often cover complex usage. ;-)

One problem with such words as only and just is that some people feel that there is a 'correct' position for them. The 'incorrect' position gives a different meaning, That is one point of view, but most of the native-speaking population carry on blissfully unaware of this, and have no difficulty at all in picking up the intended meaning of an 'incorrectly' positioned just/only.

We teachers who know the rules will probably have to keep imparting them to learners as long as some teachers/examiners penalise learners who make a 'mistake'. I, however, told my learners not to worry about them. The 'incorrect' position often feels more natural to many native speakers than the 'incorrect' one.

 

[jutfrank]

I have a different view on this from that of 5jj, expressed above.

There are indeed rules that govern the position of adverbs. These are rules which are learnt naturally at a young age, and which give us a sense of what sounds natural and what doesn't. The problem is, they are extremely hard to get at, even for linguists whose job it is to find them. I think that the vast majority of ESL teachers like us have very little clue as to what they are.

One of the most complicating factors in my opinion is that the effect of focusing adverbs in speech often comes largely from the way we intone and stress the word in question, something which simply cannot be expressed in written language.

 

[5jj]

There are indeed rules that govern the position of adverbs. These are rules which are learnt naturally at a young age, and which give us a sense of what sounds natural and what doesn't. The problem is, they are extremely hard to get at, even for linguists whose job it is to find them. I think that the vast majority of ESL teachers like us have very little clue as to what they are.

Which leads me to doubt that there are many reliable 'rules'.

One of the most complicating factors in my opinion is that the effect of focusing adverbs in speech often comes largely from the way we intone and stress the word in question, something which simply cannot be expressed in written language.

We are in agreement there.

 

[Tdol]

Which leads me to doubt that there are many reliable 'rules'.

If we did give our students Chomsky's TG rules, we would probably be arrested for cruelty. ;-)