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From the two following choices, is there one choice correct only or both can be correct and it's a matter of style? I'm not sure where I should to put the adverb "only" in such sentences.

"There are there only 3 papers."

or

"There are there 3 papers only."

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  • Why two "there"s? Is it a typo or something?
    – Cardinal
    Apr 17, 2018 at 2:15
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    No. The second is adverb (the opposite of "here"). dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/there
    – Virtuous Legend
    Apr 17, 2018 at 2:18
  • Oh OK, I see. that position of adverb was a little bit unfamiliar to my learner eyes.
    – Cardinal
    Apr 17, 2018 at 2:22
  • You could say "There are over there only 3 papers." where "there are" refers to existence and "over there" refers to location. Though the normal phrasing would be "There are only 3 papers over there."
    – user3169
    Apr 17, 2018 at 5:24

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Are you intending to say that there are "only" 3 papers in a specific place? If so, the correct way of saying this would be:

"There are only 3 papers there.

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8
  • Yes that's what I wanted to say exactly. Then "there are there" never correct?
    – Virtuous Legend
    Apr 17, 2018 at 2:21
  • No, it would never be correct. And I'm glad I could help. :)
    – Whiskers
    Apr 17, 2018 at 2:23
  • Thank you. The same rule for "there is there". isn't it?
    – Virtuous Legend
    Apr 17, 2018 at 2:24
  • I guess it should be it's there not there's there (?)
    – Cardinal
    Apr 17, 2018 at 2:29
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    @Archimedean_Point: "There" is an adverb of place. The general rule is that an object of place is put immediately after an intransitive verb and after the object of a transitive verb. So, it must be "There is a man there," because the adverb of place is put after the object man.
    – Canadian Yankee
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:25

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