Focusing adverbs: even and only

 Two focusing adverbs in English are "only" and "just". These adverbs are used to emphasize the specific thing being referred to in a sentence.

Here are some examples:

• I only have one dollar. (emphasizing that the speaker has only one dollar)
• She just finished her book. (emphasizing that she finished her book recently)

Note that "only" and "just" can be used in different parts of a sentence and can have slightly different meanings depending on their placement.

Here are some exercises to practice using "only" and "just":

1. Fill in the blanks with "only" or "just":

a. I _____ eat vegetables for lunch. b. He _____ has two weeks left until his vacation. c. She _____ told me about the party yesterday. d. They _____ went to the store for bread.

2. Rewrite the following sentences, adding "only" or "just" to emphasize a specific thing:

a. I need to buy a new phone. b. She finished the project on time. c. We saw the movie last week. d. He arrived at the airport in time for his flight.

Answers:

1. a. only, b. just, c. only, d. just
2. a. I need to buy only a new phone., b. She just finished the project on time., c. We only saw the movie last week., d. He just arrived at the airport in time for his flight.

"Even" is another adverb in English that can have various meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Here are some of the most common uses of "even":

1. Emphasis: "Even" can be used to add emphasis to a statement or to indicate that something is surprising or unexpected.

• I can't believe he even showed up.
• She's always busy, even on the weekends.
• Even I can't eat that much pizza.

2. Leveling: "Even" can be used to indicate that something is level or balanced.

• Make sure the bookshelf is even before you start adding books.
• The table needs to be even before we can put the tablecloth on.

3. Comparison: "Even" can be used to compare two things or to indicate that something is the same.

• The two teams are even in points.
• We both like pizza, even though we have different favorite toppings.

4. Continuation: "Even" can be used to indicate that something will continue or go on for a long time.

• We'll be studying even after the sun goes down.
• He kept talking even though no one was listening.

Note that the use of "even" can vary depending on the context, and it can have different meanings depending on how it is used in a sentence.

So, in summary, "even" is another adverb in English that can be used to add emphasis, indicate levelling, comparison, or continuation.

Here's an exercise that combines the use of "even" and "only" in different contexts:

Directions: Fill in the blanks with "even" or "only" in the appropriate form to complete the sentences.

1. I _____ have one hour to finish this project.
2. She _____ eats ice cream on special occasions.
3. They were _____ surprised to hear the news.
4. He _____ went to the concert to see his favorite band.
5. We need to make sure the cake is _____ before adding the frosting.
6. I can't believe he _____ forgot my birthday.
7. She can _____ speak Spanish fluently.
8. We need to work hard to _____ pass the exam.
9. He _____ started studying for the test yesterday.
10. They _____ saw a few birds at the park.

Answers:

1. only
2. only
3. even
4. only
5. even
6. even
7. even
8. even
9. only
10. only

Explanation:

1. "Only" is used here to emphasize that the speaker has a limited amount of time.
2. "Only" is used here to indicate that the person does not eat ice cream regularly.
3. "Even" is used here to indicate that their surprise was unexpected.
4. "Only" is used here to indicate that seeing his favorite band was the only reason he went to the concert.
5. "Even" is used here to indicate that the surface needs to be completely level or balanced.
6. "Even" is used here to indicate that the speaker is surprised or shocked at the other person's forgetfulness.
7. "Even" is used here to indicate that speaking Spanish fluently is a high level of proficiency.
8. "Even" is used here to indicate that passing the exam will be difficult and require significant effort.
9. "Only" is used here to indicate that the person did not start studying earlier.
10. "Only" is used here to indicate that they saw a small number of birds at the park.

Note that the use of "even" and "only" can depend on the context in which they are used, and that there may be other valid ways to complete these sentences as well.