only 用作副词,表示“仅仅”“只有”,通常应放在它所修饰的词语之前。如果所修饰的词位于句末,则也可将其放在被修饰词语之后。比较以下句由于 only 位置不同所导致的含义上的变化:
Only I kissed her last night. 昨晚只有我吻了她(即别人没吻她)。
I only kissed her last night. 昨晚只是吻了她(即没干别的事)。
I kissed only her last night. 昨晚我吻的只有她(即没吻过别人)。
I kissed her only last night [last night only]. 我只是在昨晚才吻了她(即其他时候未吻过她)。
为什么only做副词不单单能修饰 v 和 adj 还能修饰 n了呢?
1. 一个单词可以有多个词性和词义,这是语言的基本特征。only也不例外,它同样具备此种特征。它可以是副词,也可以是形容词,口语中,它还可以用作连词,意为but,例如:
I want to go with you, only I havn't got time. 我愿意和你去,可我没有时间。
2. 词的语法作用是确定词性的根本标准;词典对词性的认定可能存在失误的地方。
词性由用法决定,而不是词典认定——这是毫无疑问的。词典上出现词性定义上的差错,也是完全有可能的。
3. 我认为,当only修饰动词、形容词、副词时,它是副词;当它修饰名词或代词时,它就是形容词。所以,在你给的句子中,句1和句3中的only是形容词,不是副词。
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问题一:only 置于所修饰的词语之后
根据《柯林斯高级英语词典》,将 only 置于所修饰的词语之后主要是为了强调,该词典的相关解释如下:
When only is used as an adverb, its position in the sentence depends on the word or phrase it applies to. If only applies to the subject of a clause, you put it in front of the subject. Only strong characters can make such decisions. Otherwise, you normally put it in front of the verb, after the first auxiliary, or after the verb be. I only want my son back, that is all.. He had only agreed to see me because we had met before... I was only able to wash four times in 66 days. However, some people think it is more correct to put only directly in front of the word or phrase it applies to. This is the best position if you want to be quite clear or emphatic. It applies only to passengers carrying British passports... She'd done it only because it was necessary. For extra emphasis, you can put only after the word or phrase it applies to. The event will be for women only... I'll say this once and once only.
英汉版《柯林斯高级英语词典》对以上文字的翻译如下:
only 用作副词时,其在句中的位置取决于它所修饰的单词或短语。若 only 修饰句子的主语,则置于主语前,如:
Only strong characters can make such decisions. 只有坚强的人才能作出这样的决定。
除去此种情况之外,only 通常置于动词前、第一个助动词或 be 动词之后,如:
I only want my son back, that is all. 我只想要回我儿子,仅此而已。
He had only agreed to see me because we had met before. 他同意见我只是因为我们以前见过面。
I was only able to wash four times in 66 days. 我66天才做到洗了4次澡。
但有人认为将 only 直接置于它所修饰的单词或短语之前更恰当,这样可以表达得更清楚或更具强调意味:
It applies only to passengers carrying British passports. 这仅适于持英国护照的乘客。
She'd done it only because it was necessary. 只是出于必要她才这样做的。
若要进一步加强语气,可将only置于它所修饰的单词或短语之后:
The event will be for women only. 该活动仅限女性参加。
I'll say this once and once only. 这件事我就说一次,而且仅此一次。
问题二:为什么only做副词不单单能修饰 v 和 adj 还能修饰 n了呢?
副词原则上不用于修饰名词,但有少数副词可以,有的语法学家称之为“焦点副词”,即“集中注意”时用的副词,如even, just, merely, only, really和simply之类的副词可以用在其所修饰的词之前,以使人对其集中注意。
关于焦点副词的用法,可参考英语语法网的以下文章: