He was only supposed to do vs He was supposed to do only

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'He was only supposed to do' implies that he had a specific task or duty to perform, while 'He was supposed to do only' suggests that he was expected to do just one thing and nothing else. The placement of 'only' in the sentence changes the emphasis and meaning.

Last updated: March 23, 2024

He was only supposed to do

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate that someone had a specific task or duty to perform, without any additional actions or responsibilities.

Examples:

He was only supposed to do the dishes, not clean the entire kitchen.
She was only supposed to do her homework, not help her brother with his.
They were only supposed to do the presentation, not handle the Q&A session.

Show examples from the web [+]

He was only supposed to be in the Marine Corps for two years.
It was only supposed to be a short trip, apparently.
! I thought the spell was only supposed to release the fairies.
I was only supposed to design cyber-animals for an unmanned exploration...
I thought this was only supposed to happen in the morning.
There was only supposed to be three guards in that bank.
It was only supposed to be a personal statement.
I was only supposed to stay a semester, but then he convinced me to hang around.
Dingaan's recon team was only supposed to scout a two-mile radius.
The charade was only supposed to last long enough to get him to interrogation.
I was only supposed to stay here for a weekend, too.
She was only supposed to be here a few days, and it's been three weeks.
She's been here two months and until a few days ago, this was only supposed to be a temporary thing.
I was only supposed to be here for a night or two, so...
Well, that case was only supposed to last a couple of weeks, but instead it went a year.
Look, I'm no astronomy major, but I thought there was only supposed to be one sun in the sky.
It was only supposed to be a 45-minute drive.
Now, her number was only supposed to be known by mob bosses, who would ring up with the names of targets.
It was only supposed to be a temporary measure, but then Siobhan found out and threatened to expose Andrew.
Never mind. I was only supposed to work here for 6 months.

Alternatives:

He was supposed to do only
He was supposed to do just
He was supposed to do solely
He was supposed to do nothing but
He was supposed to do solely

He was supposed to do only

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate that someone was expected to do just one thing and nothing else, emphasizing the limitation to a single action.

Examples:

He was supposed to do only the first part of the project.
She was supposed to do only the introduction, not the conclusion.
They were supposed to do only the basic tasks, not the advanced ones.

Show examples from the web [+]

This room was supposed to only have one doorway, not three.
I was supposed to only come down here for observation.
He was only supposed to be in the Marine Corps for two years.
But he was only ever supposed to stay in Korea for a few months.
The State guarantee was supposed to be only supplementary to the other collaterals for the loan.
Part-FCL reflects the JAR-FCL system where the instruction of applicants for an SFI certificate was supposed to be only undertaken by a TRI.
It was supposed to be only in Prairie Dog's head.
And I was supposed to be the only person in the room who loved you.
No, I'm only supposed to turn it over twice a week while he's on vacation.
And anyway, he only did it 'cause he was supposed to, so it didn't last.
He was supposed to have died in a way that the only possible explanation was that he'd been murdered by a member of his own entourage.
Raiko was killed just when he was supposed to prove to Jeca that he's not only a father, but a man as well.
I was only supposed to stay a semester, but then he convinced me to hang around.
Now, he's only supposed to scare people off - not slaughter them!
That's why Miller was skulking around the file room when I was supposed to be the only skulker.
He was supposed to pick up some reading plans.
How he was supposed to kill someone.
Sweetheart, he was supposed to tell you.
That's before he was supposed to meet Mitch.
Because he was supposed to work on my sciatica.

Alternatives:

He was only supposed to do
He was supposed to do just
He was supposed to do solely
He was supposed to do nothing but
He was supposed to do solely

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He was only supposed to do vs He was supposed to do only