laeng
Only
A name + laeng restricts who; a number + laeng restricts how many.
How It Works
Laeng follows the expression it restricts, without an intervening linker. It is written separately and remains unchanged across persons and numbers. With a name or pronoun it can limit the participant; with a numeral it limits the count. In a predicate phrase, it can restrict the activity under discussion.
The intended alternatives matter. “Only Mila” excludes other people, while “I can only read” limits the speaker’s relevant abilities. In the illustrated ability pattern, the short subject pronoun precedes laeng. Compare the fragments dua, “two,” and dua laeng, “only two.”
The supplied conversational assessments also use laeng with the lighter English sense “just.” Such uses need their conversational setting; translating every occurrence with restrictive “only” can make an ordinary assessment sound unnatural.
Examples (3)
- Ni Mila laeng ti maestra.
Only Mila is a teacher.
Laeng restricts the named participant among the relevant people.
- Dua laeng ti kuarto.
There are only two rooms.
Laeng restricts the room count.
- Makabasaak laeng.
I can only read.
In a discussion of abilities, laeng restricts the relevant ability to reading.
Related Patterns
- ni / daMarking Personal Names
A marked personal name can be followed by laeng to restrict the participant.
Level 1 - maysa / dua + LinkerCounting Things
Numerals supply counts that laeng can restrict.
Level 2 - maka- / naka-Being Able to Do Something
Laeng can limit the abilities under discussion in a maka- clause.
Level 3 - payStill, More or Also
Additive pay adds a possibility, while laeng restricts the relevant possibilities.
Level 2 - Putting Short Attached Words in Order
The illustrated short subject pronoun precedes laeng.
Level 2
Practice laeng in Bubblegum
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