only had vs had only

Both "only had" and "had only" are correct and commonly used in English. They can be used interchangeably depending on the emphasis you want to give to the word "only" in the sentence.

Last updated: April 08, 2024 • 1190 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"only had"

This phrase is used to emphasize that the subject possessed or experienced something exclusively or solely.

Examples:

I only had one dollar in my pocket.
She only had a few minutes to spare.
They only had one chance to succeed.

Show examples from the web [+]

You know, she only had an overbite.
Sarah only had an 11 percent chance.
She would have only had five minutes after that.
I only had a turtle once.
Look, I only had an ace.
I only had an hour, but I figured...
And she only had a little picture of Dad.
BOPE only had a hundred men.
Except Jack only had an EMF meter.
And Wycoff only had his belt.
She only had a staph infection.
I only had him for a little while...
I only had 60 bucks in my wallet.
I only had a couple of tabs.
We only had it 2 months before it was stolen.
We only had a two-week break between Hunky Dory and starting Ziggy.
Porter discovered that earlier Zen patriarchs only had several disciples.
Previously we only had airbags and electronically controlled systems.
The Yridians only had part of the shipment.
You only had to be civil to him.

Alternatives:

had only
possessed only
experienced only
had just
only possessed

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"had only"

This phrase is used to emphasize that the subject possessed or experienced something exclusively or solely.

Examples:

He had only one cookie left.
They had only a brief moment to say goodbye.
She had only herself to blame.

Show examples from the web [+]

Previously, the windows had only a full-screen view.
He had only tried to become but one color upon Ozu's palette.
Furthermore operational regulations had only non-binding nature (advisory circulars).
Those two had only each other.
It seemed we had only one enemy left.
As a film performer, Mitchell had only moderate success.
Their squid had only nine legs.
Postponing destiny had only managed to drive my anxiety even higher.
Vaughn had only one prior, and he had been straight for five years.
I decided to accomplish what Borias had only dreamed of...
The band had only one more song to play.
Dirt pulled from the construction site had only trace amounts of PCBs.
They had only the gateway to flee for safety.
Some had only eight or nine men a company left...
The 1979 air force had only transport and liaison aircraft.
This hamlet had only 46 inhabitants in 2006.
The second victim had only a little hole here. Tina.
Lincoln's victory in the electoral college was decisive: Lincoln had 180 and his opponents added together had only 123.
I think of what I had only.
For Rita had only mentally progressed...

Alternatives:

only had
possessed only
experienced only
had just
only possessed

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