Scope Lamp
Scope
Operator
Focus-sensitive particle
What does this marker apply to?
booster
intermediate
Information structure
Maana
The range affected by a word or marker such as not, only, also, all, every, already, still, almost, or even.
Jinsi ya kuitambua
Move the marker mentally and observe what meaning changes.
Mifano
Maneno
only|also|not|all|every|almost|still
Virai
only Anna|not all|almost finished
Sentensi
Only John saw Mary.
Visual guide
Basic shape
Scope = lit area
Only [John] saw Mary
^^^^
only applies here
Meaning:
John, not others,
saw Mary.
Compare shape
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
Mtazamo wa lugha
Katika lugha yako
Arabic (Modern Standard)
Uwepo
strong
Umuhimu
Scope is important with negation, إلا, فقط, كل, بعض and similar operators.
لا أقرأ إلا الكتبَ المفيدة.
I read only useful books.
Katika lugha unayojifunza
German (standard)
Uwepo
strong
Ugumu
Scope depends on particles and their position, especially nur, auch, schon and noch.
Ich lese nur den ersten Teil.
I read only the first part.
Changamoto ya kawaida kwa wanaojifunza
Learners may place only/also equivalents where they modify the wrong element.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.