（1）Although he only makes $500 monthly, he manages to support his family adequately. 《当代英语应试语法》(中国科技大学出版社,1994,p.239)
(2) He only has a two-week vacation during the year despite the fact that other workers get more time off. (TOEFL)
我看不出上面两个句子有什么错误。请释疑。
上面的试题应当按照语言纯正主义者的观点来做:把 only 搁在它所说明的成分之前。在试题(1)中把 only 搁在 $500 之前,在试题(2)中把 only 搁在 a two-week vacation 之前。
英语教师应注意:你本人和你的学生可能提出许许多多的反例来证明上面两道试题的句子本身并没有错误。这是因为在口语里,甚至在书面语里,人们并不按照语言纯正主义者的要求来使用 only。RWRT 作者们指出,下面的三个句子都是可以接受的,而且其中的 only 都是说明 seven lengths 的:
I swam seven lengths only. (相当别扭, 不自然, 但意义明确)
I swam only seven lengths. (正式, 意义明确)
I only swam seven lengths. (最合乎语言习惯, 最自然, 但不是最合乎逻辑的)
R. Quirk 等则进一步指出：“在《英语用法调查》语料库中有关 only 的例句中，大约有一半 only 是放在句中位置，它所指的中心词项却位于句末”。
下面让我们再补充一些例句：
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I only see them when I go to New York. (WBD) (= only when) 我只是去纽约的时候才去看他们。
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This will only be possible when scientists have learnt a lot more about the atmosphere that surrounds the planet. (New Concept English, Book 3, L.9) 这只有在科学家们对火星周围的大气层有更多的了解时才有可能。
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... the answers will only be found through a vast programme of scientific research. (CBSE) …只有通过广泛的科学研究规划才能找到答案。
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Hilda only helped Tony... [ = "Hilda helped only Tony..." ] (CGEL) 希尔达只帮助过托尼。
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Hilda only helped Tony because of his injury. [ = "Hilda helped Tony only because of his in-
jury.”] 希尔达帮助托尼仅仅是因为他受了伤。
- The direct conflict of opinions... could only be settled, if at all, between the President and myself. (Winston Churchill) 意见的正面冲突……即使能解决，也只能在总统和我本人之间加以解决。