Word
Je hoeft de robot alleen maar te updaten.
Meaning
You only need to update the robot.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Je hoeft de robot alleen maar te updaten.
je
you (unstressed form of jij)
alleen
alone; only
hoeven
to need (to)
te
to (infinitive marker)
Questions & Answers about Je hoeft de robot alleen maar te updaten.
Why is hoeven used here without a negative word like niet or geen?
Normally, hoeven (to need to) is only used in negative sentences. However, restrictors like alleen maar (only / just) act as a 'soft negative.' When you combine hoeven with alleen maar and te, it translates to 'only have to' or 'just need to'.
What role does maar play in alleen maar here?
On its own, alleen means 'alone' or 'only,' and maar means 'but' or 'just.' Together, alleen maar is a fixed phrase meaning 'only' or 'nothing but.' In sentences with hoeven, you need this complete phrase (or another restrictor like slechts) to make the grammar work without a negative word.
Could I use slechts instead of alleen maar in this sentence?
Yes, you could say Je hoeft de robot slechts te updaten. Both mean exactly the same thing, but alleen maar is much more natural and common in everyday speech. Slechts sounds quite formal or written.
Why is it te updaten and not up te daten?