صرف ... ہی

Restricting the Focus to One Item

Level 3

Place the restricted phrase between صرف and ہی.

How It Works

Compare صرف مریم نے ہی خط لکھا and مریم نے صرف خط ہی لکھا. The first singles out Maryam among possible writers; the second singles out the letter among possible things written.

The pattern can also restrict a place or time phrase. صرف صبح ہی means that morning is the relevant time, with other times excluded in the context.

صرف and ہی are not required together every time you express restriction. Their combination makes the focus explicit and emphatic.

Examples (4)

  1. صرف مریم نے ہی خط لکھا۔

    Only Maryam wrote the letter.

    The focus includes the ne-marked writer.

  2. مریم نے صرف خط ہی لکھا۔

    Maryam wrote only the letter.

    Moving the focus changes which alternatives are excluded.

  3. یہ دکان صرف صبح ہی کھلتی ہے۔

    This shop opens only in the morning.

    The restriction concerns time.

  4. صرف اس کمرے میں ہی روشنی ہے۔

    There is light only in this room.

    The full location phrase is restricted.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

صرف ... ہیLevel 3Restricting the Focus to One Item

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Understand how a focus particle applies to a word or phrase.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

صرفہی