Metkagram
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B2–C1 · GFF · GFF015

All + subject + did + was + bare infinitive phrase

Explanation

A reusable frame from “Negation, inversion and focus”. Compare how English and German express negation, inversion and focus. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

Structure

EN · EnglishAll + subject + did + was + bare infinitive phrase
DE · GermanSubject + haben + lediglich/nur + participle phrase

Anchor phrase

RU · Translation

Я всего лишь попросил объяснить.

EN · English

All I did was ask for an explanation.

DE · German

Ich habe lediglich um eine Erklärung gebeten.

Try variations2 · more examples

  1. RU · Translation

    Она всего лишь передвинула стул.

    EN · English

    All she did was move the chair.

    DE · German

    Sie hat lediglich den Stuhl verschoben.

  2. RU · Translation

    Мы всего лишь сравнили два списка.

    EN · English

    All we did was compare the two lists.

    DE · German

    Wir haben lediglich die beiden Listen verglichen.

Pattern graph

Continue with nearby patterns

GFF001Not until + past clause + did + subject + bare infinitiveGFFGFF002Only after + -ing phrase + did + subject + bare infinitiveGFFGFF006Not only did + subject + bare infinitive, but + subject + also + past verbGFFGFF004Under no circumstances + modal + subject + bare infinitive phraseGFF