student asking question

Can I replace "just" to "for no reason"? Like, "You can't take anyone for no reason."

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

This is a good guess. However, the point of emphasis here is not on "just," but on the "taking of someone" to the event. Hermione is saying that Harry has to take (bring) someone appropriate/suitable, not that he can't take someone for no reason. Thus, "just" cannot be replaced with "for no reason" as this would change the meaning of the sentence.

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