Is あの人たちだけ魔法を使える。 correct?


> あの人たち **だけ** 魔法を使える。  
>  Only they can use magic.

Is the above sentence grammatically correct? To be specific, I am trying to
figure out if the word 'dake' (だけ) is put correctly after "あの人たち".




あの人たちだけ魔法を使える is correct in casual speech, but it's not good as a formal
sentence. Unlike も or すら, だけ doesn't replace が/は, so in formal settings you
have to say either of:

  * あの人たちだけは魔法を使える。
  * あの人たちだけが魔法を使える。

See [this discussion](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/66306/5010)
regarding the difference between だけは and だけが.




あの人たちだけ魔法を使える is correct in casual speech, but it's not good as a formal
sentence. Unlike も or すら, だけ doesn't replace が/は, so in formal settings you
have to say either of:

  * あの人たちだけは魔法を使える。
  * あの人たちだけが魔法を使える。

See [this discussion](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/66306/5010)
regarding the difference between だけは and だけが.

