So, you want to start a sentence with “just,” but you’re not sure if it’s correct. Well, there are a few things you need to know before using it.
This article will explain everything you need to know! We’ll help you understand whether it’s appropriate to start a sentence with “just.”
You can start a sentence with “just” when it’s followed by “now.” For instance, “just now, something went wrong.” You may also use “just” in conversational situations. For instance, “it’s good. Just that it isn’t fair.” “Just” should never start a formal sentence.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- You can start informal sentences with “just” when something happens recently.
- It also works when you are talking to someone and adding more information.
- “Just” should never start a formal sentence.
Here are a few examples to help you understand it:
- Just now, the bank closed. You will need to find another way in.
- Just because I’m here for you doesn’t mean I want you to say anything. Do you understand?
Of course, you should only use “just” in informal sentences. It never works formally at the start of a sentence.
You should keep reading to learn more about “just” at the start of a sentence. You need to know a few things before you can use it correctly.
What Does “Just” Mean at the Beginning of a Sentence?
“Just” means recently or simply. It has two common uses when it comes at the beginning of a sentence.
Firstly, “just” means recently. You can use it when something has occurred in the last few moments. For example:
- Just now, I found my mother. It’s been years since I last saw her.
- Just then, someone walked past me and stole my phone! I can’t believe it.
Secondly, “just” allows you to add simple information. It is a casual addition to a sentence, allowing you to speak conversationally. For instance:
- She is going to go far in this world. Just like her mother before her!
- Just as I told you, there will be no more winners. We cannot let anyone get away with this.
Remember, though. “Just” only works informally. You should never use it professionally because it does not add anything of value to your writing.
Alternatives to Starting a Sentence With “Just”
So, if you want a more formal alternative, you should read the list below. Some great options remove the need to write “just” at all. For example:
- Because
- It is
- As I said
- As
- Simply
- Recently
- Evidently
- Clearly
Conclusion
“Just” is correct at the start of a sentence. However, you should only use it informally. It allows you to add recent or simple information to a sentence.
It is not formal, so you cannot use it in professional contexts.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
просто, только что, как раз, именно, точно, точный, справедливый, верный, заслуженный
наречие ↓
- именно, как раз, точно
- едва
I just caught the train — я едва /еле-еле/ успел на поезд 
only just enough — едва хватает
he just managed to pass the exam — он еле-еле /с натяжкой/ сдал экзамен
it just might work — не исключена возможность, что это поможет /возымеет действие/
- только что
he has just come — он только что пришёл
the book is just out — книга только что вышла
- просто, всего лишь; только
he is just an ordinary man — он просто заурядный человек
just one! — а) возьмите хотя бы одну! (конфету и т. п.); б) ну дайте одну! (сигарету и т. п.)
let us just see — вот посмотрим
I came here just to see you — я пришёл сюда только для того, чтобы увидеть вас
just a minute! — минуточку!
just a moment, please — подождите минутку, пожалуйста!
- эмоц.-усил. просто, прямо, совсем, абсолютно
it is just splendid — это прямо великолепно
time just flew — время просто летело
just fancy! — подумать только!; скажите!; можешь себе представить!
just look [listen, feel] — ты только посмотри [послушай, пощупай]
that is just the point! — в этом всё дело!
do just as you like! — ну, поступай, как знаешь!
прилагательное ↓
- справедливый
just dealing(s) — добросовестность
to be just to /towards/ smb. — быть справедливым (по отношению) к кому-л.
just cause — убедительный мотив; полное основание, полное право
to speak in a just cause — юр. выступать (в суде) по справедливому делу
just war — справедливая война
- заслуженный
to receive one’s just deserts — получить по заслугам
just reward [punishment] — заслуженная награда [кара]
just sentence — мера наказания по заслугам
- обоснованный; имеющий основания
just opinion — разумное /правильное/ мнение
just suspicion [claim] — обоснованное подозрение [-ая претензия]
just anger — гнев, для которого есть все основания
just fear — небеспричинные опасения
- законный
a just title to the estate — законное право на (данную) собственность
- верный, точный
just proportion — верное соотношение, правильная пропорция
just scales /balances/ — точные весы
- муз. чистый, точный
just intonation — чистая /точная/ интонация
- арх., библ. праведный
just person — праведник, добродетельный человек
just life — праведная жизнь
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
a just cause for war — уважительная причина для начала войны
it is just the case — это как раз и имеет место, это именно так
fair / just decision — справедливое решение
just plain folk — простые люди
just for fun — шутки ради
quite a slight wound, just a graze of the arm — довольно лёгкое ранение, просто царапина на руке
just the other way round — как раз наоборот
just at that precise moment — именно в тот момент
just happen to say — сболтнуть, выпалить
just prediction — верное предсказание
just fantasy! — можете себе представить!; подумайте только!
Примеры с переводом
I just caught the train.
Я едва успела на поезд.
Wait a minute, I’m just coming.
Подожди минутку, я сейчас вернусь.
I’ll open it just now.
Я открою прямо сейчас.
I will do just as you advise.
Я сделаю именно так, как вы советуете.
Look, just shut up for a minute!
Слушай, заткнись-ка на минуту!
Now, just listen to what I’m telling you.
А сейчас, просто послушайте, что я вам говорю.
It just isn’t true.
Это просто неправда.
ещё 23 примера свернуть
Возможные однокоренные слова
justify — оправдывать, объяснять, подтверждать, выравнивать, выключить строку
justly — справедливо, законно
unjust — несправедливый, неправый
justness — справедливость, точность
Just is most commonly used as an adverb together with the present perfect tense. In this context, just means ‘a short time ago’, and is positioned between the auxiliary verb (had/ have/has) and the past participle.
For example:
-
I’ve just spoken to John.
-
Have you seen what’s just happened to the share price?
-
They had just finished their dinner when the phone rang.
Just can also be used in place of the word «only»:
-
Can I have just a little bit of cake, please?
-
That’s just an excuse.
Although it is now old-fashioned, just can be used as a noun, relating to the concept of justice and standing in for ‘right’ or ‘correct’:
-
Given the severity of the crime, life imprisonment was just.
-
Her charity raises money for a just cause.
Finally, just is used in a wide variety of informal phrases:
- just a minute = wait
- just about = nearly
- just as well = for the best
- just help yourselves = go ahead
- just so = neat and tidy; precise
The word just is one of those overused words that carries little meaning and appears to just clutter up a sentence (oops, did it again).
- When is the use of just justified?
- What are better, clearer constructions (e.g. replace just with only)
- When should the word be dropped altogether?
Laurel♦
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asked Feb 14, 2011 at 17:43
1
I’d say a good rule of thumb is to use it when you need it for clarity or to add a special emphasis.
There were just three jars of honey left.
This is different from
There were three jars of honey left.
because it gives the sense that three jars of honey is not a lot, or at least that you don’t think it is.
So the answer is no, don’t give it up entirely. Just trust yourself to use it less. Think of it as dieting. If you have the willpower, you can write lean sentences.
answered Feb 14, 2011 at 17:47
As other words, use it when it adds a meaning to the sentence, and not just to use it.
A just and democratic society (it is different from a democratic society).
We all get our just deserts (it is different from we all get our deserts).
I’ve just seen the local paper (it is different from I’ve seen the local paper).
They were just interested in making money (it is different from they were interested in making money, but it is similar to they were only interested in making money).
They are just great (it is different from they are great).
«Simon really messed things up.» «Didn’t he just?»
[Reference: The New Oxford American Dictionary.]
answered Feb 14, 2011 at 18:03
apadernoapaderno
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9
I’ve pondered this word many times. It also has a singular/universal/variant side.
Universal
As the Catholic Church says, «It is right and it is just…» where «just» is used to imply law and legality, similar to justice. This form of «just» applies a meaning that it includes all people, therefore universal.
Singular
«I just want to kiss.» Here it means only me, I am the only one who wants something and the thing I want is only a kiss.
Variant
Then there are others, «just in time», which is neither universal or singular but in this case it’s an approximation to a specific time.
Just recently I noticed that just this law is not just onto Bedouins and their herds.
answered Oct 28, 2015 at 16:20
by Liz Walter
Just is a really annoying word for learners of English! It’s very common and we use it in lots of different situations, often with quite different meanings. In this post, I will try to explain some of the most common ways in which we use it – not only on its own, but as a part of some common phrases.
We often use just to talk about when something happens. It can mean ‘a very short time ago’ or ‘very recently’:
I’ve just spoken to Tom. (UK)/I just spoke to Tom. (US)
They had just arrived in London.
If we want to be more emphatic, we can say only just:
Don’t get mud on the floor – I’ve only just cleaned it. (UK)/I only just cleaned it. (US)
Rather confusingly, just can also be used with present tenses to mean ‘now’ or ‘in a very short time’:
I’ll do it in a minute. I’m just having a cup of tea.
We’ll be a bit late – we’re just leaving the house.
If we say we are just about to do something, we mean that we are going to do it almost immediately:
I think Maria’s just about to leave.
The rainy season was just about to start.
And if we say that something happens just as another thing happens, we mean that they happen at the same time:
They arrived just as we were leaving.
A completely different, but also extremely common, meaning of just is ‘only’:
I thought the book was about Europe but it was just about France.
We often use this just to show that something isn’t as important, large, difficult, etc. as someone might think it is:
You just need to work a bit harder.
I don’t live here – I’m just a tourist.
They were just trying to have some fun.
We often use just as with an adjective when we are comparing two things, to say that they have the same amount of a quality. Remember that you need to say just as …. as if the adjective is followed by a noun or noun phrase:
Mick can be rude, but you’re just as bad.
Her new book is just as good as her last one.
Finally, just can be used as a general emphasizing word:
I just don’t believe it!
There are certainly other subtle uses of just, but I hope this post has helped you to understand and use the main ones.