The particle is a part of speech giving modal or emotional emphasis to other words or groups of words or clauses. A particle may join one part of the sentence to another (connecting particles). Particles have no independent function in the sentence. Meaning According to their meaning particles fall under the following main groups: #1. Limiting particles: only, just, but, alone, solely, merely, barely, etc. I only wanted to make you speak. (Shaw) Just one question, Mrs. Dartie. Are you still fond of your husband? (Galsworthy) Soames was but following in the footsteps of his father. (Galsworthy) [...]