Ne ... que

Ne ... que is used to express a restriction. It is usually translated as 'only'.

• Je n'ai qu'un livre. I only have one book.

• Il ne voit que les films étrangers. He only sees foreign movies

indefinite and partitive articles do not change: Je n'ai pas de livre vs Je n'ai qu'un livre.


The ne goes in its normal negative position in front of the verb. The que must be placed directly in front of the word it is qualifying.Note how the position of que can change the meaning

• Je n'ai lu que deux pages. I only read two pages.

• Je n'ai lu deux pages que pour te faire plaisir. I read two pages only to please you.The only reason I read two pages was to please you.

• Il ne veut que travailler à la banque. He only wants to work at the bank (not invest there).

• Il ne veut travailler qu'à la banque. He wants to work only at the bank (not at the store)

• Je n’ai que cinq euros = I only have five euros.

http://french.about.com/library/vocab/bl-only.htm