Slight clarification

J B.C1Kwiziq community member

Slight clarification

Okay, so, if I were to say “nous n’avons que regardé un film that would be “we only watched a film” perhaps with the subtext: “and didn’t discuss it, or do anything else with/regarding it?” (I understand this may sound weird if you’re not a film studies major, but I am.) And/or could it be used in response to “you’ve been hanging out with _______??? What have you been doing?!?” as in: “chill, we only watched a movie” in the sense of “we just watched a movie together, that’s all.”

The above, as compared to the corresponding given example, where “nous n’avons regardé qu’un film” means “we only watched a film” with subtext “just the one, only one,” so more numerical than “simply”?

I’m just sort of asking because “that’s all we did!” seems a bit... vague or something? Like differentiating between examples feels a lot like splitting hairs the way it’s described in the lesson? Could just be me, though. 

Asked 5 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

It's the same in English:

We watched only a movie. -- We only watched a movie.

There's a slightly different emphasis but it's hard to pin down.

Slight clarification

Okay, so, if I were to say “nous n’avons que regardé un film that would be “we only watched a film” perhaps with the subtext: “and didn’t discuss it, or do anything else with/regarding it?” (I understand this may sound weird if you’re not a film studies major, but I am.) And/or could it be used in response to “you’ve been hanging out with _______??? What have you been doing?!?” as in: “chill, we only watched a movie” in the sense of “we just watched a movie together, that’s all.”

The above, as compared to the corresponding given example, where “nous n’avons regardé qu’un film” means “we only watched a film” with subtext “just the one, only one,” so more numerical than “simply”?

I’m just sort of asking because “that’s all we did!” seems a bit... vague or something? Like differentiating between examples feels a lot like splitting hairs the way it’s described in the lesson? Could just be me, though. 

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