English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
PROXIMITY OF MODIFIERS: ONLY
Only he borrowed $100 (he, and no one else, borrowed).
He only borrowed $100 (he did not seek the money as a gift, but merely borrowed it).
He borrowed only $100 (he didn’t borrow more than that).
He borrowed $100 only yesterday (how come he’s broke again?).
Modifying words should be placed as near as possible to the words they modify.
GAB