Just

January 7, 2013January 7, 2013 By admin 19 comments

Just can be used as an adjective. It is related to the idea of ‘justice’ and usually means ‘proper’ or ‘correct’.

He is a just man.
I think their punishment was just.

There is an expression just deserts which means that someone got the punishment they deserved.

Twenty years in prison? I think he got his just deserts

There is also an adverb form justly

He has been justly praised for all his work for charity.

However, we are mainly concerned in this lesson with the adverb just.

Just can mean ‘exact’.

You look just like your father,
That is just what I was looking for.
It’s just like Steve to be difficult.

Just can mean ‘nothing more than’.

Just do what I say.
Just a quick word.
I have just met him a few times
You will just have to be patient.

Just can be used for emphasis and then means ‘completely’.

It’s just amazing what he has done.
I just can’t believe it.

Just can mean ‘a small amount’.

I had just enough time to talk to her before I left.
I just missed him. He had only gone a few minutes before I got there.
It should take just over an hour to get there.

Just can also mean ‘a small distance’.

My office is just down the corridor.
There is a good restaurant just around the corner.
The Spanish border is just south of Ceret.

Just with a past tense can mean ‘very recently’.

I was just trying to phone you.
I have just seen him.

Notice that just is used with a Present Perfect in British English but frequently with the Past Simple in American English.

She’s just arrived.
She just arrived.
We have just been talking about it.
We were just talking about it.

With progressive forms, just can mean ‘in the immediate future’.

I was just going to bed when you called.
I am just coming.

With the present tense, just means ‘now’.

I am busy just at the moment. Can you call me back later?
I can’t do that just now.

Here are some useful expressions.

Just about means ‘almost’ or ‘nearly’.

Henry seems to have just about finished his project.
I have had just about all I can take from my boss. I am thinking of resigning.

Just a minute/second/moment is used to stop the movement or the speech of somebody.

Just a moment. Where do you think you are going?
Just a second. Say that again.

Just as has the idea of ‘same as’.

He is just as unpleasant as his wife.
Just as I anticipated, he left before finishing the work.

Just as well means that it is good that something has happened, even if it wasn’t expected.

It is just as well that you found out now that he is unreliable.
It is just as well that I didn’t take that job as the company has gone into liquidation.

Just like that means ‘suddenly’.

A big thunderstorm started just like that. We all got soaked.
He was here a moment ago. Then he vanished just like that.

Just the thing means that something is perfect or the best.

I have just the thing you need to help you sleep better.
That rose is just the thing to put in your hair.

Not just yet is similar to ‘not yet’ but suggests that the action will be finished soon.

I haven’t quite finished reading his report just yet.
Lunch? Not just yet. Give me five minutes.

Not just is similar to ‘not only’.

She’s not just a colleague, she’s a good friend.
It’s not just an ordinary birthday, it’s your 50th.

19 Comments

Margaret

Jan 1, 2013, 11:13 am

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GIOVANNA

Jan 1, 2013, 12:40 pm

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Ludmila

Jan 1, 2013, 1:11 pm

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Rushdha

Jan 1, 2013, 6:24 am

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Ankita Verma

Jan 1, 2013, 4:03 pm

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Garvin de Silva

Jan 1, 2013, 12:21 am

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muhas

Jan 1, 2013, 7:30 am

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Cheng Youra

Jan 1, 2013, 3:32 am

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Sarah

Jan 1, 2013, 10:09 am

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Cristina

Jan 1, 2013, 3:49 pm

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Jan 1, 2013, 6:02 am

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isharaa

Feb 2, 2013, 4:14 pm

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Maria

Feb 2, 2013, 10:15 pm

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abdessalem

Jun 6, 2013, 2:09 pm

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flor

Feb 2, 2015, 11:38 am

Am so happy to read all of ur examples about how to used the word “just”. very useful 🙂
thanks!…

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