The expressión “no + verbo + más que” is very common in the Spanish-speaking world, but it can be a little tricky to grasp for non-natives. Let’s break it down and learn how to use it properly!
No + verbo + más que = Solamente:
1. We usually use this phrase in negative contexts.
2. It has the same meaning as the word “solamente”.
3. Unlike ‘solamente’, however, using the expression “no + verbo + más que” indicates a strong negative connotation.
Ejemplos:
- Estas plantas medicinales no sirven más que para calmar el dolor. These medicinal plants are only good to calm the pain
- Estas plantas medicinales sirven solamente para calmar el dolor. These medicinal plants will only calm the pain.
When used to talk about people, this expression may indicate a bad, poor, or insuficient situation:
- Ellos no tienen más que una casa sencilla. They have nothing more than a plain house.
- Ellos tienen solamente una casa sencilla. They only have a plain house.
- Tú no sabes más que sobre historia. You know nothing but history.
- Tú sabes solamente sobre historia. You only know about history.