Just is an adverb. Let’s take a look with 5 simple steps.
1.just = only/simply
I’m so hungry. I just had coffee for breakfast.
(I only had coffee, I didn’t eat anything. Now I am hungry.)
At the doctor’s office: Don’t worry about that spot, it’s just a mole.
(It’s only a mole. Don’t worry. It’s nothing cancerous.)
No that’s not my boyfriend. It’s just my brother.
(He’s only my brother. He isn’t a boyfriend.)
Just eat your dinner and stop complaining.
(Only eat. Don’t do anything else.)
Just do it.
(Only do it. Don’t think.)
I just need you to help me with this one homework question.
(I need your help with only 1 question. Not the other questions.)
2.just = very recently
In this case, ‘just’ is normally used with the ‘present perfect’ in British English and ‘past simple’ in American English.
I’ve just had lunch. I’m stuffed!
(I had lunch a few minutes ago. I can’t eat now.)
Sorry, Mr. Ryan has just left. Can I give him a message?
(Mr. Ryan went home 2 minutes ago.)
How can you complain about finding a job? You have just graduated!
(You graduated very recently, you graduated 2 weeks ago. It takes time to find a job.)
Where’s my phone? I just saw it?
(How is this possible? I saw my phone 10 seconds ago. Where is it?)
3.just = exactly
This lasagne tastes just like my mum’s.
(This lasagne tastes exactly like the lasagne my mum makes.)
This bath temperature is just right.
(This bath isn’t too hot or too cold. It’s perfect. It’s exactly right.)
Oh my goodness, you look just like your father.
(You and your father look exactly the same. It’s obvious you are related.)
4.just = to add emphasis to a statement
I can’t finish this grammar exercise. It’s just too difficult.
(I really want to emphasise how difficult this grammar is.)
5.Just can also be an adjective meaning ‘fair’. Justice is the noun.
We must live in a just society where everyone is treated equally.
All members of the jury agreed that the criminal was given a just sentence.
