'Only' placement.

[99bottles]

We have known each other (only) for (only) a few weeks.

I'm not sure where to place 'only'. I know that it is supposed to be placed in front of what it modifies, though most native speakers would incorrectly place it after 'we'. Anyway, I'm not sure whether I should place it before or after 'for'.

 

[5jj]

We have known each other (only) for (only) a few weeks.

most native speakers would incorrectly place it after 'we'.

They wouldn't in that sentence.

Anyway, I'm not sure whether I should place it before or after 'for'.

After.

 

[Tarheel]

Two possibilities.

1. We have only known each other for a few weeks.
2. We have known each other for only a few weeks.

(Cross posted.)

 

[emsr2d2]

We have known each other (only) for (only) a few weeks.

... most native speakers would incorrectly place it after 'we'.

That's incorrect. Many native speakers would place it after "We have". No one would say "We only have ...".

 

[99bottles]

That's incorrect. Many native speakers would place it after "We have". No one would say "We only have ...".

Yeah, that's what I meant. My bad.

 

[Phaedrus]

I know that it is supposed to be placed in front of what it modifies . . .

If that were true, it shouldn't be possible to place "only" at the end of the sentence: We have known each other for a few weeks only. But that, too, is possible.

 

[99bottles]

If that were true, it shouldn't be possible to place "only" at the end of the sentence: We have known each other for a few weeks only. But that, too, is possible.

So how is that explained?

 

[Tarheel]

I don't know about explaining it. Anyhow, it seems rather unlikely.

 

[Phaedrus]

So how is that explained?

That's a good question, one which may not have a bite-sized answer. Why don't you read this article (Ross and Cooper [1979], referenced in James McCawley's The Syntactic Phenomena of English [1988]), which I don't have time for right now, and let us know what you learn?

 

[Tarheel]

How can I un-download a PDF file?
:-(

 

[Phaedrus]

If you don't like it, simply close the window. The relevant part is on pages 366-375 (which is pages 15-18 of the pdf). It's an old-school transformational-grammar article.

 

[emsr2d2]

How can I un-download a PDF file?
:-(

I'm not sure if that's a genuine question! In case it is, you can't "un-download" anything. You need to simply find the PDF file on your computer (it's probably in your "Downloads" folder or your "Recent" folder) and delete it. It will go into your "Recycle Bin" and from there you can hard-delete it (get rid of it forever).

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, it is a genuine question. I clicked on that link not knowing I would download a PDF file without meaning to.

Unfortunately, I don't know how to do any of those things you suggested. I can't delete that file. I can't read what's on it. I don't even know how to find it. (I'm using an Android mobile device.)

 

[tzfujimino]

I clicked on that link …(I'm using an Android mobile device.)

I clicked on the link too, and as a result, nothing happened on my Android phone. That means I didn't download anything.

So, you shouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[Tarheel]

OK, but when I clicked on it a second time I saw a message that asked me if I wanted to download it again. (I'm not sure at this point why I clicked on it twice, but I did.)

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, it is a genuine question. I clicked on that link not knowing I would download a PDF file without meaning to.

Unfortunately, I don't know how to do any of those things you suggested. I can't delete that file. I can't read what's on it. I don't even know how to find it. (I'm using an Android mobile device.)

If you don't have software on your phone that can read PDFs, I wouldn't worry about it. I can't help you further than that. I never use the site on a mobile and I know nothing about Android phones.

 

[Tdol]

Two possibilities.

1. We have only known each other for a few weeks.
2. We have known each other for only a few weeks.

(Cross posted.)

Only we have known each other for a few weeks is another theoretical possibility, but the meaning is completely different.

 

[Tarheel]

Only we have known each other for a few weeks is another theoretical possibility, but the meaning is completely different.

Grammatically it's fine, but it can't possibly be true.

 

[emsr2d2]

Grammatically it's fine, but it can't possibly be true.

It could be true in the right context.