{"id":7543,"date":"2015-02-06T00:00:01","date_gmt":"2015-02-06T00:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/ingles\/?p=7543"},"modified":"2015-02-02T21:02:33","modified_gmt":"2015-02-02T21:02:33","slug":"how-to-use-the-word-just-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/ingles\/2015\/02\/06\/how-to-use-the-word-just-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Use The Word “Just” In English"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Just<\/strong> has many uses in English. Many Brazilians confuse the words just<\/strong> and only<\/strong>. But only just<\/strong> is used as a kind of mitigator.<\/p>\n

A mitigator acts as a kind of “buffer” or social “lubricant” in order to make the force of what you’re saying seem softer.<\/p>\n

Consider these examples:<\/p>\n

– Just a second.<\/strong><\/em>
\n – I just want to say a few words.<\/strong><\/em>
\n – I just think it’s wrong.<\/strong><\/em>
\n – If I could just interrupt here…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

When you say \u00fanico<\/em> in Portuguese, the translation is usually only<\/strong> (though there are other translations), and never just<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Ele \u00e9 filho \u00fanico. – He’s an only child.
\nEsse \u00e9 o \u00fanico motivo. – That’s the only reason.
\nEle \u00e9 \u00fanico. – He’s the only one.<\/p>\n

(Careful here: “Ele \u00e9 \u00fanico” is “He’s unique.”)<\/p>\n

There is also the case in which just<\/strong> has a meaning similar to ‘exactly’.<\/p>\n

That’s just what I need. = That’s exactly what I need.
\nJust the person I was looking for! = Exactly the person I was looking for!
\nBut that’s just the problem! = That’s exactly the problem!<\/p>\n

And in other instances just<\/strong> can be used to mean ‘simply’:<\/p>\n

I just hate cold weather. = I simply hate cold weather.
\nI don’t know why… I just do. = I don’t know why… I simply do.
\nI just called to say “I love you”. – I simply called to say “I love you”.<\/p>\n

… and so on.<\/p>\n

In most cases, where you say apenas, s\u00f3<\/em>, and somente<\/em> in Portuguese, you can use just<\/strong> and only<\/strong> interchangeably:<\/p>\n

Apenas ontem ele estava dizendo isso.
\nJust yesterday he was saying that.<\/em>
\n Only yesterday he was saying that.<\/em><\/p>\n

S\u00f3 duas pessoas compareceram.
\nJust two people showed up.<\/em>
\n Only two people showed up.<\/em><\/p>\n

Eu somente quero ter certeza.
\nI just want to be sure.<\/em>
\n I only want to be sure.<\/em><\/p>\n

Of course, it is always dangerous to talk about absolutes when it comes to translation (the expression s\u00f3 isso?<\/em> is translated as “is that it?” for example), but the above should serve as some guidance and help.<\/p>\n

Here’s a breakdown of the uses of just<\/strong>, especially as a mitigator.<\/p>\n

Use 1 – Just meaning “simply” (similar to simplesmente in Portuguese). It’s usually used at the beginning of the sentence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I don’t know if I should apply for the job. There’s so much competition.<\/em>
\n B: Just go for it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Use 2 – Just meaning “only” (similar to s\u00f3<\/em> in Portuguese). It’s usually used at the beginning of the sentence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Who’s coming to the party?<\/em>
\n B: Just me.<\/em><\/p>\n

Use 3 – Just meaning “exactly” (similar to justo<\/em> in Portuguese). It’s usually used after the subject.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Am I late?<\/em>
\n B: No, you’re just in time.<\/em><\/p>\n

Use 4 – Just to mitigate the force of a question or request (similar to s\u00f3<\/em> in Portuguese). It’s usually used before the main verb.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let me just ask you something…<\/em><\/p>\n

Use 5 – Just to politely announce intentions. It’s usually used after subject pronouns and auxiliary verb.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m just going to use your bathroom.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is it for today. See you next time?<\/p>\n

Post gentilmente cedido pelo autor Ron Martinez, retirado do livro “Como Dizer Tudo Em Ingl\u00eas Avan\u00e7ado”<\/strong>. Compre na Livraria Saraiva.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta Just has many uses in English. Many Brazilians confuse the words just and only. But only just is used as a kind of mitigator. A mitigator acts as a kind…<\/p>\n

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