一、only引導的詞組或句子放在句首作狀語時,通常要用倒裝結構。
如:
Only in this way can you solve the problem.
只有通過這種方式你才能解決問題。
Only if you study hard can you pass the exam.
只有努力學習才能通過考試。
Only then did I realize my mistake.
只有那時我才意識到錯了。
二、not only...(but also)出現(xiàn)在句首時,如果架連接的是兩個句子,常用倒裝。
如:
Not only did we lose all our money,but we also came close to losing our lives.
我們不僅丟了錢,還差點把命丟了。
Not only did he speak correctly,but he also spoke easily.
他不僅說得準確,而且說得很輕松。
三、only放在不定式前面,常表示不愉快或出乎人們的意料的結果。
如:
I went all the way to his home only to find hime out at a meeting.
我徑直到他家里去,不料發(fā)現(xiàn)他出去開會了。
I hurried to the post office only to find it closed.
我匆忙趕到郵局,不料已經(jīng)關門了。
She went home only to find her house burglarized.
她回到家里,發(fā)現(xiàn)房子被盜了。
四、“too...to...”結構中,表示否定意思,但在“only too...to...”結構中,only too = very,表示肯定意思。
如:
The patient is too weak to walk.
那個病人太虛弱了,走不動。
We are only too willing to do it for you.
我們非常愿意為你做那事。
I am only too delighted to accept your king invitation.
我非常高興地接受你的邀請。
五、在“one of + 復數(shù)名詞 + 定語從句”的結構中,定語從句一般被看作修飾復數(shù)名詞,謂語要用復數(shù)形式。但在“the only one of + 復數(shù)名詞 + 定語從句”的結構中,定語從句卻被看作修飾“the only one”,謂語動詞要用單數(shù)形式。
如:
This is one of the best novels that have been published in the past two years.
這是近兩年出版的最好的小說之一。
He was the only one of the boys who was given a prize.
他是這些孩子中唯一受到獎勵的。
She is the only one of the girls who has been to the US.
她是那些女孩中唯一去過美國的。
六、If only 為虛擬語氣的一種,表示愿望或一個未實現(xiàn)的條件,多用于感嘆句,其主句常常省略。
如:
If only she would marry me!
她要是能和我結婚該多好!
If only he had known about it!
他那時要是知道這件事該多好!
If only you could have been here earlier that day!
要是你那天再早點到這就好了。
If only there were forty-eighty hours in a day.
要是一天有48個小時就好了。