likes only or only likes

[talkintree]

Which do you use on a regular basis?

"He likes only ham on his pizza."
or
"He only likes ham on his pizza."

If you use the first one, congradulate yourself. You have spoken proper English. "He likes only..."

I learned in class yesterday that many of us say "only likes"...but this is incorrect. I forget the reasoning behind it with the pronouns, adverbs, verbs etc, but if you'd like I can come back to this post and explain it later when I have my book.

Interesting, isn't it?  

[Healing Rain]

I used the first, but I didn't read the whole post. xp  

[GabbySilverwood]

Yeah... I actually use a different word when I say it the second way.
I guess that just leaves me out in the cold.  

[Gomer Tymur]

I never thought about that, I always write the second way. You would think the first way sounds wrong.  

[Buffy_Summers_Rox]

I always say the first option, but I thought it was wrong xp

 

[tetrasmaster]

Heh, I am so used to saying it the second way, that I don't think I'll be saying it the correct way for awhile...

It's just like when you are referring to yourself and another, you're supposed to say "My friend and I", not "Me and my friend."
I usually say "My friend and I", but people think that sounds weird also.  

[Ame Yuki Kaze]

Wow. I'll admit I've never heard of that either. I guess that one had us all stumped.

What about something like: "He only likes to travel when the weather's fine"? Would it then be, "He likes only to travel when the weather's fine?"  

[ZigguratII]

Yami no Hitokiri

Wow. I'll admit I've never heard of that either. I guess that one had us all stumped.

What about something like: "He only likes to travel when the weather's fine"? Would it then be, "He likes only to travel when the weather's fine?"

The reason it is as it is in the first example is because the word 'only' is acting as an adjective.

He likes only this. 'This' is what the adjective is describing. In your example however there is a prepositional phrase, so only is acting as an adverb. Thus the first is correct. However when stating "He only likes this." it implies that the subject likes but one thing. Which is typically false. What the speaker is usually trying to get accross is that in the context of the conversation the subject prefers but one item.  

[Aarora]

Oh, wow. o: I never use the first one... "She only likes cats." ... "She likes only cats." That's so weird. x3

 

[Ame Yuki Kaze]

OK, so we say: "He likes only pepperoni on his pizza", (meaning that pepperoni is the only pizza topping he likes, but he still likes other foods), "He only likes to travel in the nice weather" (meaning he doesn't like to travel in foul weather) and "He only likes cats" (meaning he doesn't like other animals. Correct?  

[ZigguratII]

For the most part yes, taking a sentence out of context that's how it'll breakdown. Though with context either of them will get across the idea you're trying to express.  

[Litia_Echo]

I usually use the first one "likes only", but I also have always thought it depended on in which way you were using it.  

[Katleene-chan]

I use only likes. It really depends on the situation.