only or still

[keitra]

Which is right? It is only 6c'clock. It is still 6 o'clock.

[Quizmonster]

There are only severely limited circumstances in which it might be possible to say: "It is still 6 o'clock." These are when something has been arranged in advance - eg a meeting - to happen at 6 o'clock. After the initial arrangements were agreed, perhaps some doubt arose as to whether it really was going to happen at that time. Someone asking whether the arrangement was still as agreed might ask: "Is it still 6 o'clock?"...meaning: "The arrangement hasn't changed, has it?" The answer may then be: "It is still 6 o'clock."

In 'normal' situations, "It is still 6 o'clock" is not conceivable, since time moves forward constantly; thus, if it was 6 o'clock a few moments ago, it clearly is impossible that it might still be so.

[geofbob]

To indicate that it is early, "only 6 o'clock" is correct, not "still 6 o'clock" (which is only right in the circs described by Quizmonster). However, if you want to emphasise that it is early you can use both words - "it is still only 6 o'clock". In this case "still" is not qualifying "6 o'clock" (which as Quizmonster says would be absurd) but the word "only".