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

Status
Not open for further replies.

anhnha

Senior Member
Joined
May 5, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Vietnamese
Home Country
Vietnam
Current Location
Vietnam
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.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
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"?
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"?
It's a subjunctive form. Most speakers of BrE would use should be here.
 

M1na

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2012
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
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.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic

anhnha

Senior Member
Joined
May 5, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Vietnamese
Home Country
Vietnam
Current Location
Vietnam
Thank for help!
The boss requires that she be treating them well.
There are few contexts in which that would be natural.
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.
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
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.

Only #4 is natural.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top