Which is the correct way to say this sentence?

Welsh Megaman

Settle an argument, boardsies...


'Hollywood only wants what can be sold'

OR

'Hollywood wants only what can be sold'


Or should only be in there at all?

Edups

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Settle an argument, boardsies...


'Hollywood only wants what can be sold'

OR

'Hollywood wants only what can be sold'


Or should only be in there at all?

The former.

Ted111

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Settle an argument, boardsies...


'Hollywood only wants what can be sold'

OR

'Hollywood wants only what can be sold'


Or should only be in there at all?

Hollywood only wants that which can enlighten our souls and give a greater understanding of the human condition and help us find truth.

HensVassal

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Settle an argument, boardsies...


'Hollywood only wants what can be sold'

OR

'Hollywood wants only what can be sold'


Or should only be in there at all?

They're both correct but mean two different things.

First one means Hollywood wants nothing else. In other words what can be sold is their only want. Nothing else.

Second one means Hollywood want what can be sold amongst other things such as world peace or a cure for cancer.

Very subtle difference.

phill106

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Settle an argument, boardsies...


'Hollywood only wants what can be sold'

OR

'Hollywood wants only what can be sold'


Or should only be in there at all?

From
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-the-Word-Only-Correctly
so from reading through it a bit, it would seem
'Hollywood only wants what can be sold'
is correct?

The King of Moo

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

Settle an argument, boardsies...


'Hollywood only wants what can be sold'

OR

'Hollywood wants only what can be sold'


Or should only be in there at all?

They're both correct.

The first tallies with everyday use, the second is a little more formal and old-fashioned but still perfectly correct.

There could also be a very slight different in meaning between the two.
Placing only before wants could mean that Hollywood does nothing else but want what can be sold: it performs no other actions, and is single-minded.
Placing only before what can be sold means that that's the only thing Hollywood wants, but doesn't preclude other actions or feelings, e.g. Hollywood could still need other things, for example.

snubbleste

Describes Paul Hollywood accurately

bnt

The second one is adequate but can be improved: 'Hollywood wants only that which can be sold'

The King of Moo

The King of Moo wrote: »

They're both correct.

The first tallies with everyday use, the second is a little more formal and old-fashioned but still perfectly correct.

There could also be a very slight different in meaning between the two.
Placing only before wants could mean that Hollywood does nothing else but want what can be sold: it performs no other actions, and is single-minded.
Placing only before what can be sold means that that's the only thing Hollywood wants, but doesn't preclude other actions or feelings, e.g. Hollywood could still need other things, for example.

As an ESL teacher, I sometimes get students who ask stuff like this as a challenge because they know it's hard to explain. You should be an ESL teacher.

The King of Moo

Deleted User wrote: »

As an ESL teacher, I sometimes get students who ask stuff like this as a challenge because they know it's hard to explain. You should be an ESL teacher.

I am actually, guess I made the right career choice .

The King of Moo

The King of Moo wrote: »

I am actually, guess I made the right career choice .

I guess so!

retro:electro

Neither. The correct way is "Hollywood wants what can only be sold".

Edups

anna080 wrote: »

Neither. The correct way is "Hollywood wants what can only be sold".

No it's not I assure you.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Hollywood only what can be sold, wants.

retro:electro

All Hollywood wants is that which can be sold

Edups

anna080 wrote: »

All Hollywood wants is that which can be sold

That's a correct way, but not the argument being put forward. I give you 7/10 Anna.

Harvey Normal

Adding "That which" is bollocks for sure.

The King of Moo

anna080 wrote: »

Neither. The correct way is "Hollywood wants what can only be sold".

That's too specific. The original sentences indicate that Hollywood wants things that can be sold, true. But it might be possible for those things to be defined by some other characteristic, e.g. they could be rented, or loaned out, in addition to potentially being sold.

But this sentence suggests that if something could be rented or sold, or have anything else done to it, Hollywood wouldn't be interested. It wants things that can only be sold, and not have anything else done to them. The original sentences aren't so restrictive about what Hollywood wants.

anna080 wrote: »

All Hollywood wants is that which can be sold

This is the same as the original two sentences, but much more formal. You'd never actually say that. It belongs more in an academic work.

Harvey Normal

The King of Moo wrote: »

That's too specific. The original sentences indicate that Hollywood wants things that can be sold, true. But it might be possible for those things to be defined by some other characteristic, e.g. they could be rented, or loaned out, in addition to potentially being sold.

But this sentence suggests that if something could be rented or sold, or have anything else done to it, Hollywood wouldn't be interested. It wants things that can only be sold, and not have anything else done to them. The original sentences aren't so restrictive about what Hollywood wants.



This is the same as the original two sentences, but much more formal. You'd never actually say that. It belongs more in an academic work.

I don't think she was being serious but I doubt that that which is correct at all, as what does the that refer to? Movies is implied but not stated

The King of Moo

Harvey Normal wrote: »

I don't think she was being serious but I doubt that that which is correct at all, as what does the that refer to? Movies is implied but not stated

that which is fine. Formal but fine. In this case it'd mean anything. As opposed to meaning anything, of course.

Welsh Megaman

What about this...

'Hollywood only wants what it can sell'

OR

'Hollywood wants only what it can sell'?

notdarkyet

I believe the second version is correct.
Consider:
He only likes cake and he likes only cake.
'He only likes cake' suggests to me me he doesn't love it.
'He likes only cake' suggests he doesn't like biscuits.
Only is linked to the verb or the noun depending on its placement.

Peregrinus

Both sentences are gramatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings or emphases.

"Hollywood only wants X" could mean that Hollywood merely wants X, but doesn't lust after X, steal X, seize X, or whatever; it just wants it. The emphasis is on the limits to the strength or force of Hollywood's attitude to X.

But in "Hollywood wants only X" the emphasis is on X, the thing that is wanted; Hollywood wants nothing else but this, and it may want it passionately.

Having said that, I think in the common idiom people would often say "Hollywood only wants X" when their point is actually that X is the only thing Hollywood wants. Accomplished English speakers will understand immediately what is meant, but a student of English as a foreign language will be puzzled, and will say, shouldn't that be "Hollywood wants only X"?

man_no_plan

The correct use depends on what you're trying to say. Context is everything.