under any conditions

[navi tasan]

Which is correct:
1) I can't work for you under just any conditions just to make ends meet. Some requirements will have to be met regarding the workplace before I start work.
2) I can't work for you under any conditions just to make ends meet. Some requirements will have to be met regarding the workplace before I start work.

I think the 'just' is necessary. Without it, the first sentence seems to say that there is no way I will work for you. However, I wonder if one cannot save to by putting a lot of emphasis on 'any'. Maybe if it is heavily accentuated the sentence would work in this context?

 

[tedmc]

I think the "just" is optional.

 

[Tdol]

The second sentence makes the speaker's meaning perfectly clear.

 

[Tarheel]

For the first sentence (either one), try:

I can't work for you just to make ends meet.

 

[jutfrank]

I can't work for you under just any conditions

I think the 'just' is necessary. Without it, the first sentence seems to say that there is no way I will work for you.

Yes, that's right.

However, I wonder if one cannot save to by putting a lot of emphasis on 'any'. Maybe if it is heavily accentuated the sentence would work in this context?

I don't follow—what does 'save to' mean? Yes, any should be stressed.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you all very much,

My apologies Jutfrank. I mean to write save '2' and I wrote 'save to' which is the stupidest mistake one could make!

I meant to say that maybe

2) I can't work for you under any conditions just to make ends meet. Some requirements will have to be met regarding the workplace before I start work.

could work if 'any' was heavily stressed.

I am not sure about that at all.

Gratefully,
Navi

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

I am ready, willing and able to start work. However, some requirements will have to be met regarding the workplace before I can start work.

Try that!

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, you probably could omit just and still get your message across by pronouncing any in the right way, but if you mean just any, then say just any.

Think of (not) just any as a fixed phrase with a certain meaning/use.