If only I had helped / If I had only helped

[sibu]

If only I had helped him move home.
If I had only helped him move home.

Is either position of "only" natural in English?

 

[Keith Bradford]

Both are possible, but the meanings are different.

• If only I had helped him move home = I wish I had helped him!
• If I had only helped him move home = Just helping him to move would have been better than what I did.

However, not everyone makes the same distinction, and the difference is not clear-cut.

 

[se16teddy]

In speech, the emphasis helps.
If only I had helped him move home - I really wish I had helped.
If only I had helped him move home - I really wish there was nobody else here interfering.