4.5 Conclusion 123Unlike other conjunctions, such as but , because , or so , which have acquired
even clearer uses as freestanding or sentence- fi nal pragmatic markers, only has
not. However, if only has such a function. A chapter- fi nal excursus explored the
use and meaning of freestanding if only , its development from a full biclausal
structure, and its relation to insubordinated clauses.