"You already can't bring your tweezers, and now you can't walk on with a bottle of water. That's a problem for me. If I were traveling with a carry-on only, I would be totally screwed." - Jessica Biel, in People, about the new restrictions for commercial airline travel
Jessica has avoided two common errors, both of which are often found in questions on standardized examinations. She has used the proper form of "to be" in a hypothetical statement, and she has placed the adverb "only" next to the words that it most logically modifies.
In the last sentence, Jessica describes a hypothetical situation when she says, "If I were traveling." She has correctly employed the subjunctive mood, which requires the use of "were" in a hypothetical statement even if the subject is singular. Jessica did not make the common error of saying, "If I was."
Jessica continues this sentence by saying, "with a carry-on only." The adverb "only" follows the prepositional phrase "with a carry-on"; this is correct because "only" modifies "with a carry-on." Jessica did not say, "If I were only traveling with a carry on," which would be incorrect because the adverb "only" would then modify the verb "traveling." This would mean that all she would be doing is traveling; she would not be living, breathing, or bemoaning the new airline restrictions. It could also mean that all Jessica would be doing with a carry-on is traveling; she would not be opening it, packing it, closing it, or unpacking it. Jessica's choice of modifier placement is therefore correct.
Great job, Jessica!
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