What does ことだけ mean in general?


According to [this](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/17849/what-
is-koto-used-for?noredirect=1&lq=1), "noun + の + こと" mostly means "regarding
noun" when it is used.

By adding a だけ to the end, (so that it's now "noun + の + こと + だけ") does this
change the meaning to something else, or does it change the amount of regard
given to the noun?




> does this change the meaning to something else, or does it change the amount
> of regard given to the noun?

Neither. It **adds** the meaning of "only". When X is a noun, Xのこと forms
another noun phrase. And `noun + だけ` just means "only ～". So:

  * Xのこと = things regarding X; things about X
  * Xのことだけ = only things regarding X; only things about X

>   * あなたのことを考えています。  
>  I am thinking about you.
>   * あなたのことだけを考えています。  
>  I am thinking only about you.  
>  ( _Not_ : I am thinking things that are related only to you)
>




> does this change the meaning to something else, or does it change the amount
> of regard given to the noun?

Neither. It **adds** the meaning of "only". When X is a noun, Xのこと forms
another noun phrase. And `noun + だけ` just means "only ～". So:

  * Xのこと = things regarding X; things about X
  * Xのことだけ = only things regarding X; only things about X

>   * あなたのことを考えています。  
>  I am thinking about you.
>   * あなたのことだけを考えています。  
>  I am thinking only about you.  
>  ( _Not_ : I am thinking things that are related only to you)
>

