Focus adverbs

The use of adverbs when ‘focusing’

Adverbs such as even, just, merely, only, really and simply can precede the
word they qualify to focus attention on it. Others like too and as well, focus
our attention by adding information.

The position of ‘even’ and ‘only’

The position of some adverbs such as even and only, is particularly flexible,
conveying slightly different meanings according to where they are placed. A
few examples are:

-Even Tom knows that 2 and 2 make 4 (i.e. although he’s stupid)

-Tom even knows that 2 and 2 make 4 (i.e. of the many things he knows)

-Only Tom knows the answer (i.e. nobody else does)

-Tom knows only half of it (i.e. nothing else)

-Tom only met Helen (i.e. no one else)

Other uses of ‘only’

Only + too, in the sense of ‘extremely’:

-I’m only too glad to be of help

Only before a verb in explanations and excuses:

-I don’t know why you’re so angry. I only left the door open

‘Too’, ‘as well’, ‘not…either’ and ‘also’

Too and as well usually go in the end position in the affirmative:

-I like John and I like his wife, too/as well

In negative sentences these words are replaced by either:

-I don’t like John and I don’t like his wife, either

Also, used as a replacement for too and as well, is more common in writing
than in speech. It comes:

After auxiliaries:

Sue is an engineer. She is also a mother

After the first verb when there is more than one:

I’ve written the letters. I should also have posted them.

Before the main verb:

I play squash and I also play tennis

Note in the above example that also generally refers to the verb that follows
it (i.e tennis is not the only game I play)

Compare I, too, play tennis which refers to the subject (= my friend plays
tennis and I play tennis, too/as well)

The use of too, directly after the subject, is formal and the end position is
preferred in informal speech.

Like too and as well, also is not used in negative sentences and must be
replaced by not…either