How can I get the positional parameters, starting from two, or more generally, `n`?

Question

($@) Expands to the positional parameters, starting from one.

How can I get the positional parameters, starting from two, or more generally, n?

I want to use the positional parameters starting from two, as arguments to a command, for example,

myCommand $@

@Jeff: if used as an array, will need shifting so that the first entry in the array is the nth position parameter. It is possible they are not used as an array, — Tim
– Tim, Commented Mar 16, 2017 at 15:53
Note that it almost never makes sense to leave $@ unquoted. — Stéphane Chazelas
– Stéphane Chazelas, Commented Mar 16, 2017 at 17:29

Stéphane Chazelas · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-16 17:42:11Z

For positional parameters starting from the 5th one:

zsh or yash.
```
myCommand "${@[5,-1]}"
```
(note, as always, that the quotes above are important, or otherwise each element would be subject to split+glob in yash, or the empty elements removed in zsh).
ksh93, bash or zsh:
```
myCommand "${@:5}"
```
(again, quotes important)
Bourne-like shells (includes all of the above shells)
```
(shift 4; myCommand "$@")
```
(using a subshell so the shift only happens there).
csh-like shells:
```
(shift 4; myCommand $argv:q)
```
(subshell)
fish:
```
myCommand $argv[5..-1]
```
rc:
```
@{shift 4; myCommand $*}
```
(subshell)
rc/es:
```
myCommand $*(`{seq 5 $#*})
```
es:
```
myCommand $*(5 ...)
```

Gilles 'SO- stop being evil' · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-16 23:53:38Z

7

$ foo=(1 2 3 4)
$ echo "${foo[@]}"
1 2 3 4
$ echo "${foo[@]:0:2}"
1 2
echo "${foo[@]:2}"
3 4

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answered Mar 16, 2017 at 15:59

DopeGhoti

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2 Answers 2