The use of Only
In addition to being used as a determiner, the word only can be used to modify almost any part of a sentence. In general, the word only immediately precedes the part of the sentence which it modifies.
The following examples illustrate how changing the position of the word only can change the meaning of a sentence.
e.g. Only the trees were somewhat damaged by last year's storm.
Meaning: Nothing except the trees was somewhat damaged by last year's storm.
The only trees were somewhat damaged by last year's storm.
Meaning: The few trees which existed were somewhat damaged by last year's storm.
The trees were only somewhat damaged by last year's storm.
Meaning: The trees were not completely damaged by last year's storm.
The trees were somewhat damaged only by last year's storm.
Meaning: The trees were somewhat damaged by nothing except last year's storm.
The trees were somewhat damaged by last year's only storm.
Meaning: The trees were somewhat damaged by the one storm which occurred last year.
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