Giao Vien 4
JUST
1. Meaning 'simply, nothing more' (= only: chỉ...) => to add emphasis to a statement
I just/only needed a drink.
I just/only want to talk to you for five minutes.
He quit the project after just/only four months.
"Would you like another drink?" "OK, just/only one more."
It was just/only a joke.
We'll just have to (= the only thing we can do is) wait and see what happens.
Just because you're older than me doesn't mean you can tell me what to do.
"Can I help you?" "No, it's all right, thanks. I'm just/only looking."
It was just a silly mistake.
We're just a small business employing 15 staff.
2. Meaning 'absolutely: hoàn toàn, chắc chắn..." => to add emphasis to a statement
They're just/absolutely great.
It's just/absolutely not right.
Our holiday was just/absolutely perfect.
Are you just/absolutely certain you saw him?
The food was just/absolutely fantastic.
They have just/absolutely no idea how this happened.
3. Meaning 'exactly, equally: như/ngang/bằng nhau, đúng như, chính xác như...":
He looks just like his father.
The twins look just like each other.
Things turned out just as I expected.
I can just imagine Sophie as a police officer.
Can you put your signature just here?
I can just imagine him working as a politician. ( 'just' emphasizes the word 'imagine'.)
This mountain is just as high as that one. (= they are exactly the same height)
You've got just as many toys as your brother. (= they have exactly the same amount of toys)
Just then, the lights went out. (= at exactly that moment, the lights went out.)
4. Meaning "fair: công bằng, phải, đúng...": As in justice: "justice" is a noun, "just" is an adj.
For law: you'll hear it in law, but you won't really hear people say it on the street. "It is not just. I did not get milk with my cookies!" But in a court case they'll go, "We need to be more just in our society", or in university.
So you'll see here: "It's not a just decision" = It's not fair! It's not right, it's not morally right. He should go back to court.
5. Just and expressions of time:
a. now, very soon, or very recently: bây giờ, ngay, sớm, sắp, nhanh, nhanh chóng...
"Where are you, Jim?" "I'm just coming."
I'll just finish this, then we can go.
The doctor will be with you in just a minute/moment/second (= very soon).
It's just after/past (UK also gone) ten o'clock.
John's in the bath just now - can he call you back? (= at the present time)
Could you wait for me? I'm just going to the shop.
b. To show sth that has recently happened, or sth has done (a very short time ago): vừa, vừa mới...
I just turned 30 years old.
We just arrived.
They just started going to school.
He just bought a car.
I just watched a really good movie.
I just learned that word!
I have just arrived home.
I have just finished work.
I've just decided to sell my apartment.
Even though I just met her five minutes ago, I already forgot her name!
Note: UK => using the present perfect tense
US => using the simple past tense
6. To emphasize an imperative (To do sth without thinking or pausing): mệnh lệnh
Just do it! (Means "Only take action. Don't think about it, go"/ "Don't think about it, just do it.")
Just speak. Just do it guys.
Just help me, please.
Just hold on!
Just trust me.
Just tell me the secret!
Just come here, and I will explain everything to you.
I don't care where you are! Just come home already!
Just shut the door quickly or we're going to be late.
7. To soften expressions => used for making a request more polite: đưa ra một yêu cầu lịch sự
Could you just trust me?
Could you just tell me the secret?
Could you just open the window?
Could I just borrow your pen for a second?
I was just wondering if I could speak to you about Anna?
8. To be used as a reason or excuse for an action or situation: dùng để giải thích nguyên do của một hành động hoặc ngữ cảnh.
They just tried to help. (Tôi chỉ cố giúp thôi mà.)
I just needed a place to stay. (Tôi chỉ cần một nơi để ở lại thôi mà.)
You just never say the right thing, do you?
He just can't stop making mistakes!
I'm just saying that you could do better.
Today is just not my day.
I am just not good at math.
I just wanted you to know that I love you.
I intended to call you back but it just slipped my mind afterwards.
IT'S JUST THAT...: kind of like saying "but, however".
I want to decline an invitation: "I'm sorry."
I could say "Oh, I'd really like to go. It's just that, I'm really busy."
"Oh, I meant to do my homework/I had my homework, it's just that I forgot it."
9. To express that sth or someone is exactly what is or was desired: đúng là thứ đang ước muốn.
You are just what I have been looking for all my life!
Thank you, it's just what I've always wanted.
Pizza is just what I wanted.
Ah, Mary! You are just the person that I needed to speak with.
He is just the man for the job.
This is just the recipe we were looking for!
It's just what I wanted1
It's just as I thought!
JUST A DREAM: It's just a dream. => This is kind of discounting an idea as "It's impossible. It's just a dream. I may not ever do it."
=> How to use "ONLY".