"The prince only thinks about this American actress."

Translation: Le prince ne pense qu'à cette actrice américaine.

[Octavianqin]

C'est Harry alors.

[SuhailBanister]

Someone my age would more likely think of Prince Rainier III of Monaco marrying Grace Kelly (High Noon, three Hitchcock movies) in 1956.

[strickland60]

Why does 'ne pense qu'à cette actrice' mean only thinks about? It would seem to mean doesn't think about. I would love to understand that phrasing. Thanks!

[choracavaco]

"Ne + verbe + que" is a "locution restrictive" meaning "seulement", not to be confused with "ne... pas":

• "Il ne pense pas à elle" = 'he doesn't think about her';

• "Il ne pense qu'à elle" = "Il pense seulement à elle" = 'He thinks only about her'.

Maybe it helps to think of "ne... que" as 'nothing but': 'He thinks about nothing but her'.

[JohnIzebhi1]

Seulement pense à was not accepted

[--Roody--]

Try pense seulement à. This is a better word order.

[Erfan615242]

King Edward?

[Ymeagain]

... and Maris Piper ? Is there any truth ...

[Angela470035]

LOL!!

[CSA_GW]

Not sure where "que" should be located. I tried "le prince ne pense a que cette actrice americaine " , and it is rejected.

For " thinks about only" , I thought "que " should be as close as possible to the object, hence "ne pense a que " should be the closest.

For "only thinks about", "ne pense qu'a" should be better.

Is this the correct understanding?

[CSA_GW]

One hour later, I came to this lesson again, and did exactly the same error even after thinking quite a while.

Now I wonder if my answer "le prince ne pense a que cette atrice americaine " is really wrong?