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interests / alt.usage.english / only on Fridays

SubjectAuthor
* only on Fridaysnavi
`* Re: only on FridaysLionelEdwards
 `* Re: only on Fridaysnavi
  +* Re: only on FridaysPeter Moylan
  |`- Re: only on Fridaysjerryfriedman
  `- Re: only on FridaysPhil

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only on Fridays

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Date: Wed, 1 May 2024 21:34:05 +0000
Subject: only on Fridays
From: arthurv...@gmail.com (navi)
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
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 by: navi - Wed, 1 May 2024 21:34 UTC

1) These things happen only on Fridays.

Does that mean that they happen on all Fridays? I think not.

2) I don't work only on Fridays.
3) Only on Fridays do I not work.

Could there be Fridays when I do work? I think not.

--
Gratefully,
Navi

Lost in the Twilight Zone of the English language
Obsessed with ambiguity
Interested in strange structures

Re: only on Fridays

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Date: Wed, 1 May 2024 22:27:07 +0000
Subject: Re: only on Fridays
From: dougstap...@gmx.com (LionelEdwards)
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
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 by: LionelEdwards - Wed, 1 May 2024 22:27 UTC

navi wrote:

> 1) These things happen only on Fridays.

> Does that mean that they happen on all Fridays? I think not.

> 2) I don't work only on Fridays.
> 3) Only on Fridays do I not work.

> Could there be Fridays when I do work? I think not.

I don't think you understand "only"? It can mean "exclusively" but...

2) I don't work only on Fridays.

...implies nothing more than what it says. On Fridays I sometimes
work and on other days I work as well.

Re: only on Fridays

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Date: Thu, 2 May 2024 01:46:03 +0000
Subject: Re: only on Fridays
From: arthurv...@gmail.com (navi)
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
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 by: navi - Thu, 2 May 2024 01:46 UTC

Thank you very much, Lionel,

How about:

2a) I only don't work on Fridays.

Does that mean that I might work on some Fridays?

--
Gratefully,
Navi

Lost in the Twilight Zone of the English language
Obsessed with ambiguity
Interested in strange structures

Re: only on Fridays

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From: pet...@pmoylan.org.invalid (Peter Moylan)
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
Subject: Re: only on Fridays
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 by: Peter Moylan - Thu, 2 May 2024 02:25 UTC

On 02/05/24 11:46, navi wrote:

> How about:
>
> 2a) I only don't work on Fridays.
>
> Does that mean that I might work on some Fridays?

I wouldn't even call that English. I can't think of any sentence where
"only don't" could occur.

If you're trying to say that you usually don't work on Fridays, but
there are some exceptions, you would say "I usually don't work on
Fridays". If there are no exceptions, it would be "I never work on Fridays".

"I don't only work on Fridays" means that you also work on some days
that aren't Friday.

--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

Re: only on Fridays

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Date: Thu, 2 May 2024 04:21:53 +0000
Subject: Re: only on Fridays
From: jerry.fr...@gmail.com (jerryfriedman)
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
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 by: jerryfriedman - Thu, 2 May 2024 04:21 UTC

Peter Moylan wrote:

> On 02/05/24 11:46, navi wrote:

>> How about:
>>
>> 2a) I only don't work on Fridays.
>>
>> Does that mean that I might work on some Fridays?

> I wouldn't even call that English. I can't think of any sentence where
> "only don't" could occur.

I had a similar problem with it. I can barely imagine it in

"I thought you didn't work Fridays or Saturdays."

"No, I only don't work on Fridays."

That might suggest that the speaker never works on Friday, but it's
too far into the twilight zone for me.

In real life I'd expect, "Fridays are the only days I don't work" or "Fridays
are my only days off" or "I'm only off on Fridays" or something.

> If you're trying to say that you usually don't work on Fridays, but
> there are some exceptions, you would say "I usually don't work on
> Fridays". If there are no exceptions, it would be "I never work on Fridays".

Navi is wondering whether it means "I work every day except (some or
all) Fridays," I believe.

> "I don't only work on Fridays" means that you also work on some days
> that aren't Friday.

(Unless it means "On Fridays, in addition to working, I do some other
things.")

--
Jerry Friedman

Re: only on Fridays

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Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
Subject: Re: only on Fridays
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 by: Phil - Thu, 2 May 2024 17:56 UTC

On 02/05/2024 02:46, navi wrote:
> Thank you very much, Lionel,
>
>
> How about:
>
> 2a) I only don't work on Fridays.
>
> Does that mean that I might work on some Fridays?
>

Interesting word, "only". One that even native speakers of English often
seem to put in the wrong place.

I could interpret 2a as meaning "I'm the only one who doesn't work on
Fridays" Or, perhaps, as a form of emphasis as in "he's only gone and
done it". Neither feels natural though.

--
Phil B

interests / alt.usage.english / only on Fridays

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