he could only come back vs he only could come back

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'He could only come back' implies that coming back was the only option available to him. 'He only could come back' suggests that the only thing he was able to do was to come back.

Last updated: March 20, 2024

he could only come back

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase indicates that coming back was the only option available to him.

Examples:

He could only come back after resolving the issue.
She could only come back if she finished her work.
They could only come back once they had permission.

Show examples from the web [+]

... the family's chances of being rich. He threw Stan out of the house, telling him he could only come back when he'd earned the kind of fortune he'd cost them.
Nov 4, 2015 ... ... he could only come back in the form he previously was before death and for him that was in pieces. Other characters (correct me if i'm wrong) ...
Jan 7, 2015 ... At that time, he was studying in Kampar therefore he could only come back during the weekends. But there was one time where he came back ...
Oct 6, 2014 ... In a sober and contrite interview with Charlie Rose, he said he realized he could only come back from the offense he'd caused “step by step,” ...

Alternatives:

He could come back only after resolving the issue.
He could come back only if he finished his work.
He could come back only once he had permission.

he only could come back

This phrase is correct but less common in English.

This phrase suggests that the only thing he was able to do was to come back.

Examples:

He only could come back because he had no other choice.
She only could come back if she wanted to avoid trouble.
They only could come back at that specific time.

Show examples from the web [+]

... was under heavy pressure, in particular by Paul-Henri Spaak, in the government Van Acker I. They demanded that he only could come back as king if he was ...

Alternatives:

He could only come back because he had no other choice.
She could only come back if she wanted to avoid trouble.
They could only come back at that specific time.

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he could only come back vs he only could come back