Scope Lamp
What does this marker apply to?
المعنى
The range affected by a word or marker such as not, only, also, all, every, already, still, almost, or even.
طريقة التعرّف عليه
Move the marker mentally and observe what meaning changes.
أمثلة
only|also|not|all|every|almost|still
only Anna|not all|almost finished
Only John saw Mary.
Visual guide
Scope = lit area
Only [John] saw Mary
^^^^
only applies here
Meaning:
John, not others,
saw Mary.
Move the lamp: Only [John] saw Mary = subject in scope John only [saw Mary] = whole event in scope John saw only [Mary] = object in scope
نظرة على اللغة
في اللغة الأم
Scope is important with negation, إلا, فقط, كل, بعض and similar operators.
لا أقرأ إلا الكتبَ المفيدة.
I read only useful books.
في اللغة قيد التعلم
English scope depends strongly on placement and interpretation of words like only, even, also, all, not, and almost.
Only John saw Mary.
only scopes over John
Learners may place only, also, and not in positions that change or obscure meaning.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.