"We may read this book only."
Translation:Smíme číst jen tuto knihu.
November 6, 2017
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horsthartm2
554
"smime jen tuto knihu." Possible in czech? we are only allowed (to read, what else do you with it) this book. Thx
Unlike in English, where "only" can go before the verb (and then it can be ambiguous as to what it refers to), we always place it just in front of the word it modifies.
Therefore, "Smíme jen číst tuto knihu" would mean that the only thing we can do with this book is READ it. And that's obviously not what we want to say -- instead, we want to say that this is the only BOOK that we are allowed to read. And that is why "jen" goes before the object ("tuto knihu") and not before the verb.