"there are only" vs "there only are"

Question

"there are only" vs "there only are"

Both "there are only" and "there only are" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "There are only" is more commonly used and is the standard word order in English. On the other hand, "there only are" is less common and may sound awkward to native speakers.

Last Updated: March 28, 2024

This phrase is used to emphasize the limited quantity or number of something. It is a standard word order in English.

Examples:

There are only three apples left.
There are only a few tickets available.
There are only two options to choose from.
There are only five minutes remaining.
There are only a couple of people who know the truth.

Alternatives:

There are just
There are merely
There are solely
There are exclusively

This phrase can be used for emphasis, but it is less common and may sound awkward to native speakers. It is not the standard word order in English.

Examples:

There only are a few people who can solve this problem.
There only are two possible outcomes.
There only are a couple of reasons for this decision.

Alternatives:

There are only
There are just
There are merely
There are solely

Answer 1

there are only

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

there only are

This phrase is correct but less common in English.

"there are only" vs "there only are"

there are only

there only are

Related Comparisons