B2-93 · Focus on what matters with sogar, nur and erst
Philosophy and values
Use the focus particles sogar, selbst, nur, erst and schon to mark what is surprising, limited, late or early, and place them before the part they highlight.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
sogar and selbst: more than expected
Focus particles highlight one part of a sentence. Sogar and selbst both mean even: they mark something as surprising or extreme. Place the particle directly before the word or phrase it highlights.
Sogar kleine Lügen können Vertrauen zerstören.
Even small lies can destroy trust.
Selbst die Philosophin hatte darauf keine einfache Antwort.
Even the philosopher had no simple answer to that.
Er hält sein Versprechen sogar dann, wenn es ihm schadet.
He keeps his promise even when it harms him.
Selbst in schwierigen Situationen folgt sie ihrem Gewissen.
Even in difficult situations, she follows her conscience.
Before a noun, selbst means even (selbst die Philosophin); after it, it means herself or itself (die Philosophin selbst). Das Gewissen means conscience, die Ehrlichkeit honesty and das Versprechen promise.
02
nur, erst and schon: less or more than expected
Nur means only and no more: the amount is small and final. Erst also means only, but suggests that more will follow or that something happens later than expected. Schon means already: earlier or more than expected.
| Meaning | German example |
|---|---|
| only, and no more | nur zwei Seiten |
| only so far, more will follow | erst zwei Seiten |
| already, more than expected | schon zwei Seiten |
| not until | erst um zehn Uhr |
Wir diskutieren erst seit zehn Minuten über Gerechtigkeit.
We have only been discussing justice for ten minutes.
Die Studentin hat das Buch schon zweimal gelesen.
The student has already read the book twice.
Erst nach dem Gespräch verstand Jonas ihre Werte.
Only after the conversation did Jonas understand her values.
Nur wer zuhört, kann andere Werte verstehen.
Only those who listen can understand other values.
With times, erst often means not until: erst nach dem Gespräch. Erst seit zehn Minuten means only for ten minutes so far. Die Gerechtigkeit means justice and der Wert value.
03
Position decides the focus
A focus particle usually stands directly before the part it highlights, so moving it changes the meaning. Nur Lena hat … means nobody else did it, while Lena hat nur … means she did nothing else. Schon before a noun can mean that this alone is enough: schon die Frage, the mere question.
Nur Lena hat die Frage nach der Freiheit gestellt.
Only Lena asked the question about freedom.
Lena hat nur die Frage nach der Freiheit gestellt.
Lena asked only the question about freedom.
Schon die Frage zeigt, wie wichtig ihr Fairness ist.
The mere question shows how important fairness is to her.
Wir haben uns sogar über die Pflicht zur Wahrheit gestritten.
We even argued about the duty to tell the truth.
Do not put the particle between an article and its noun: nur die Frage, not die nur Frage. Directly before the participle, nur means merely: Sie hat die Frage nur gestellt, she merely asked it. Die Freiheit means freedom, die Pflicht duty and die Wahrheit truth.
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