Page 319 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

307 just
1 meanings
just has several meanings. a time
just often emphasises the idea of 'at this moment' or 'close to the present'. I'll be down in a minute -I'm just changing my shirt. (= right now)
Alice has Just phoned. (= a short time ago)
Keith's still around. 1saw him just last week. (= as recently as)
In expressions like just after, just before and just when, just suggests closeness to the time in question.
I saw him just after lunch. (= ... very soon after lunch.) b 'only', 'scarcely'
just can mean 'only', 'nothing more than', 'scarcely'. Complete set ofgarden tools for just £15.99!
I just want somebody to love me - that's all.
We just caught the train.
This meaning can be emphasised by only. There was only just enough light to read by.
Can/Could I just ...1 can make a request seem less demanding. Could I just use your phone for a moment?
c 'exactly'
just often means 'exactly'.
What's the time? -It's just four o'clock. Thanks. That's just what I wanted.
She's just as bad-tempered as her father.
d emphasiser
just can emphasise other words and expressions, with the sense of'simply'. 'there's no other word for it'.
You're just beautiful. I just love your dress.
2 tenses
When just means 'a moment ago', past and present perfect tenses are both possible in British English. A present perfect is preferred when we are giving news. Compare:
Where's Eric? '" He's just gone out.
I've just had a brilliant idea.
john just phoned. His wife'S had a baby. (The news is the baby, not the
phone call.)
In American English a past tense is normal in all cases.
Where's Eric? '" He just went out. I just had a brilliant idea.
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