Here is Audio Word Study #041 from Jane Lawson at DailyStep.com
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In this word study, we’ll finish studying the meanings of JUST. You can see the other meanings of JUST in Audio Blog #040 on DailyStep.com.
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JUST (adverb)
Meaning 3: only
Examples: 1. Mozart was just eight years old when he composed his first symphony.
2. I’m sorry if I have upset you – it was just meant to be a joke.
3. There’s a great restaurant just around the corner – shall we go there for dinner? (note: ‘just around the corner’ can mean ‘very near here’, or ‘only a short distance away’.)
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Meaning 4: We use just to emphasise a statement or an order. This makes it stronger.
Examples: 1. If we can’t finish this work tonight, we’ll just have to finish it tomorrow morning. (note: this means ‘…we will simply have to finish it tomorrow morning’. If we use ‘simply’ instead of ‘just’, the sentence is a bit more formal.)
2. I don’t understand why he thinks it is fine to speak to me like that, just because he is my boss!
3. It’s not possible to travel from London to Scotland for the day – it’s just too far for a day trip.
4. No matter how many times I ask him, he just refuses to help.
5. It’s just terrible the way he speaks to his mother. (note: in all of these sentence, you can substitute 'simply' for 'just', and using 'simply' makes the sentence more formal.)
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Meaning 5: Just can reduce the force of a statement or request, to make it sound less important. This often also makes a statement or request sound more polite or more diplomatic.
Examples: 1. Could I just ask you a quick question before we leave?
2. Can I just interrupt for a moment? (note: this sounds less direct and more polite than ‘Can I interrupt for a moment.')
3. I just want to check if you are available tomorrow morning.
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Meaning 6: almost, or almost not
Examples: 1. I’ll be there in a minute – I’m just about ready. (note: ‘just about’ means ‘very nearly’.)
2. This coat only just fits my young son. Next year it will be too small for him. (note: here, ‘only just’ means ‘almost not’ – meaning that the coat is almost too small.)
3. “The mobile phone signal is very weak here – can you hear me?” “Yes, but only just!” (note: this means ‘I can hear you, but not well at all.’)
3. I have just about finished this report. It will be ready in 10 minutes.
4. It is just possible that I’ll be able to make it to your party on Friday – I’ll let you know tomorrow. (note: ‘it is just possible’ means ‘ there is a slight chance’.)
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Now, try to write your own sentences using these meanings of JUST. Make sure these sentences are true to your own life because this will help you to remember them better. That is all for Audio Word Study #041 on DailyStep.com.