The position of "only" and the use of "be" in this sentence.

Hi,


I have just come across the following sentence in my text book.
For now, we need only know that these techniques require that extra bits (beyond
the bits of original data to be transferred) be sent from the sender to the
receiver.
Is there any difference in meaning if I put "only" before the verb "need"?
(I think that we have use "to know" in the new sentence, right?)
For now, we only need to know that these techniques require that extra bits (beyond
the bits of original data to be transferred) be sent from the sender to the
receiver.
Why we use the verb "be" here, not "are"?
Thank you.

anhnha said:

For now, we need only know that these techniques require that extra bits (beyond the bits of original data to be transferred) be sent from the sender to the receiver.
Is there any difference in meaning if I put "only" before the verb "need"?

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Ideally only should come before that. However, many people are not too concerned about the 'correct' placing of only these days.

Why do we use the verb "be" here, not "are"?

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It's a subjunctive form. Most speakers of BrE would use should be here.

After "need" we usually use " infinitive with to" . I need to tell him the truth.
But you need only do something/all you need do is ... British English
We need only know that ... All we need know is that ...

Require + to do sth
Or require that
Subjunctive
The boss requires that she treat customers well.
The boss requires that she be treating them well.

M1na said:

The boss requires that she be treating them well.

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There are few contexts in which that would be natural.

Thank for help!
The boss requires that she be treating them well.

There are few contexts in which that would be natural.

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Could tell me a context in which the sentence is appropriate?
Are there any difference in meaning in these following sentences?
(Can you tell me the meaning of each sentence?)
1. The boss requires that she be treating them well.
2. The boss requires that she should be treating them well.
3. The boss requires that she is treating them well.
4. The boss requires that she treat them well.

anhnha said:

Thank for help!
The boss requires that she be treating them well.

Could tell me a context in which the sentence is appropriate?
Are there any difference in meaning in these following sentences?
(Can you tell me the meaning of each sentence?)
1. The boss requires that she be treating them well.
2. The boss requires that she should be treating them well.
3. The boss requires that she is treating them well.
4. The boss requires that she treat them well.

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Only #4 is natural.