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Back to Speak English With Vanessa

Learning Foundations

*Just* A Quick Lesson

Learn two natural uses of just: introducing a quick message and describing something that happened recently.

Read the full lesson summary

Vanessa teaches two everyday uses of the word “just.” The first use helps introduce something brief, spontaneous, or not especially serious. She uses “I just wanted to tell you” for a quick warning about pickpockets before a trip to Chicago, and “I just wanted to invite you anyway” for a low-pressure invitation to someone who may be busy. In these examples, just makes the message feel like a small aside or a quick thought. Vanessa also models the linked pronunciation of “I just wanted,” where the t in wanted is reduced in connected speech.\n\nShe gives another example of just minimizing or narrowing a description: “He's just my cousin.” In context, the speaker reassures a friend that the relationship is only familial and is nothing serious. This is a separate nuance from the recent-time meaning that Vanessa introduces next.\n\nThe second use of just means that something happened a short time ago. “I just came home from work five minutes ago” means the arrival was recent. Vanessa compares it with “I came home five minutes ago” and “I recently came home,” noting that just is a natural conversational choice. “I just got home” works similarly. She then applies the same time meaning to checking the mail an hour ago and hearing that someone cannot attend a party: “He just told me.”\n\nAt the end, Vanessa asks viewers to write their own sample sentence. Her example, “I just wanted to tell you that I just watched the video,” contains both the brief-message use and the recent-action use. Learners should use context to identify which meaning is intended: just can soften or minimize a message, describe something as only one thing, or mark an event as recent. Practising each meaning in a complete sentence makes the distinction easier to remember. The lesson is designed to make the contrast useful in everyday conversations.

S2.1
Speak English With VanessaAmerican English04:40

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Transcript

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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00

Vanessa introduces the word just and previews two uses.

Hi, I'm Vanessa from Speak English with Vanessa.com. I to help you understand a useful, natural expression. I have already used this word twice: “I just want to make a quick video to help you understand a useful, natural expression.” Can you guess the word? It's just. Today I'll explain two ways to use just so you can sound natural and fluent.

Try it: What word does Vanessa say she has already used twice?

Phrase cheat sheet

All phrases at a glance

Review each expression, hear it, save it, or jump to where it appears in the video.

15 phrases

Showing 15 of 15 phrases

just want to make a quick video

Vanessa introduces the word just and previews two uses. · expression

Here just softens and frames the action as brief or informal.

Tone and use: Casual and conversational. Use it to present a small, immediate action or request.

May not fit: It does not mean only in this use; context distinguishes meanings.

Example“I just want to ask you one quick question.”

something spontaneous

She describes the first use: introducing a quick or spontaneous thought. · expression

Something said or done without much planning, often as a quick thought.

Tone and use: Neutral. Use spontaneous for an unplanned action or comment.

May not fit: It describes timing or planning, not necessarily something accidental.

Example“I had a spontaneous idea on the way home.”

by the way

She describes the first use: introducing a quick or spontaneous thought. · expression

A conversational phrase for adding a related or incidental point.

Tone and use: Informal and natural. Use it to introduce an extra comment or reminder.

May not fit: Avoid using it for the main point in formal writing.

Example“By the way, I just wanted to tell you about the meeting.”

just wanted to tell you

She gives a warning and invitation as examples of a brief, low-pressure message. · expression

A softened way to introduce a brief message or piece of information.

Tone and use: Friendly and casual. Use it before a quick note, reminder, or update.

May not fit: It often softens the message; it does not mean the message is unimportant.

Example“I just wanted to tell you the store closes early today.”

watch out for pickpockets

She gives a warning and invitation as examples of a brief, low-pressure message. · expression

Be alert because someone may steal from you, especially in a crowded place.

Tone and use: Direct warning. Use watch out for + person or danger to warn someone.

May not fit: Use an appropriately calm tone; it is a warning, not proof that danger is present.

Example“Watch out for pickpockets on the crowded train.”

just wanted to invite you anyway

Vanessa models the reduced pronunciation in wanted and explains the invitation tone. · expression

A gentle invitation made even though the speaker knows the listener may be busy.

Tone and use: Friendly and low-pressure. Use it to invite someone while acknowledging they may decline.

May not fit: Anyway can sound dismissive in other contexts; here it keeps the invitation open.

Example“I know you're busy, but I just wanted to invite you anyway.”

the T sound

Vanessa models the reduced pronunciation in wanted and explains the invitation tone. · expression

The /t/ consonant sound in a word, which may be reduced in connected speech.

Tone and use: Instructional. Use sound to discuss pronunciation as heard in speech.

May not fit: A reduced sound is not always omitted; pronunciation varies by speaker and context.

Example“The T sound in wanted may be less distinct when spoken quickly.”

he's just my cousin

She shows just minimizing a relationship and moves to the second meaning. · expression

Here just limits the relationship description and reassures the listener that it is only a family relationship.

Tone and use: Casual and reassuring. Use just before a noun phrase to narrow or minimize what you are describing.

May not fit: Just has several meanings; here it is not about recent time.

Example“He's just my cousin, so there's nothing to worry about.”

nothing serious

She shows just minimizing a relationship and moves to the second meaning. · expression

Not important, romantic, or consequential in this context.

Tone and use: Reassuring. Use it to reduce concern about a situation.

May not fit: Specify what is not serious when context could be misunderstood.

Example“It's nothing serious; we're only discussing the schedule.”

happened recently

The second use marks a recent event, with examples about coming home. · expression

Occurred a short time ago.

Tone and use: Neutral. Use recently to refer to an event in the near past.

May not fit: The exact time depends on context.

Example“I recently came home from work.”

I just came home from work

The second use marks a recent event, with examples about coming home. · expression

I arrived home from work a short time ago.

Tone and use: Conversational. Use just before a past-tense verb to emphasize that the event was recent.

May not fit: Do not confuse this time meaning with just meaning only.

Example“I just came home from work five minutes ago.”

I just checked the mail

She gives recent-action examples about checking mail and hearing news. · expression

I checked the mail a short time ago.

Tone and use: Conversational. Use just + past-tense verb to mark a recent action.

May not fit: Add a time expression if the listener needs a precise reference point.

Example“I just checked the mail an hour ago.”

he just told me

She gives recent-action examples about checking mail and hearing news. · expression

He told me a short time ago.

Tone and use: Neutral conversational English. Use just before a past-tense verb to show the news is recent.

May not fit: Do not use present perfect with a finished past-time phrase in standard American English.

Example“He just told me he can't come tonight.”

write a sample sentence

Vanessa invites viewers to write examples using one or both meanings. · expression

Create an example sentence to practise a word or expression.

Tone and use: Instructional and practical. Use write a sentence with + a target word or pattern.

May not fit: Make the sentence natural rather than adding the word mechanically.

Example“Write a sample sentence using just in both ways.”

this uses both ways

Vanessa invites viewers to write examples using one or both meanings. · expression

This example demonstrates two meanings or uses of the same word.

Tone and use: Explanatory. Use this uses both ways after an example that contains both patterns.

May not fit: Name the two meanings so the learner can distinguish them.

Example“This sentence uses both ways you can use just.”

Knowledge check

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1 / 6

Use it in a sentence · “just wanted to tell you”

Which sentence uses just to introduce a quick, informal message?