When 'need' encounters 'only' ..

[leolyy]

To teachers who might be interested in this issure:

"..it includes A and B, and you need only take B.." So, what's the exact meaning of "need only"? "must"? or "both A and B are ok, and B is recommended"? or somthing else?



Thanks from leo

4.6.2006

[leolyy]

As the end of "affirmation" - song of Savage Garden goes: "who know, who know know know know know, who know, who know know know.."

[Tdol]

Can you give us the rest of the sentence?

[leolyy]

Editor tdol, to tell the truth, it goes as "..IELTS has two tests: the Academic test and the General Training test, and you need only take the GT test.." So, what if I dont take GT test and just use the Academic test result instead? Can this be in accord with what the speaker means?

Thanks
leo

[Tdol]

I think they mean they are looking for the GT test and saying that you don't need the AT as well, but it is not necessarily the case that the AT alone would be sufficient.

[leolyy]

I'm sorry but I believe I dont quite follow your last sentence. Can I say that it is not necessary to take GT if there's been A test result?

[Tdol]

Not necessarily. You can have GT only, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you can have AT only. Contact them and ask if that's your case- there's often flexibility, but the sentence does not imply that AT alone is enough.

[leolyy]

Thanks again for tdol's ultimate explanation and advice.