LESSON XXIV
Reading edition
Cuando empiezan las manos, las lenguas suelen callar.[24]
—JUAN VALERA.
71. The word only is both adjective and adverb. As an adjective it is in Spanish único. (Cf. English unique.)
You are the only person in whom I can confide.
Tu eres la única persona a quien puedo confiar.
—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
(a) The only thing (fact) is rendered lo único.
The only thing she knew was that he had taken that train.
Lo único que sabía era que había tomado aquel tren.
—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
(b) As an adverb only is rendered sólo, solamente, or, modifying expressions of quantity, no más ... que (de before numbers). For the order of the phrase in the sentence, see the examples.
If I only had what my father gave me, I shouldn't have enough to pay the baker.
Si sólo tuviera lo que me da el padre, no tendría para pagar al panadero.
—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
They saw only soldiers on the platforms.
Veían sólo soldados en los andenes.—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
I have only three. (I have but three. I have just three.)
Tengo solo tres. (Tengo tres solamente. Tengo tres, nada más. No tengo más de tres.)
(c) If only, expressing a wish contrary to fact, is rendered ojalá with imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive.
If only he were here.
¡Ojalá que estuviera aquí!
72. Solo without the accent means alone, or single.
The other compartment was occupied by a single man.
El otro compartamento estaba ocupado por un hombre solo.
—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
Bernard loves me alone and I love only him.
Bernardo me quiere a mí sola y yo quiero sólo a él.
—ECHEGARAY.
(a) Alone (with) is often rendered a solas (con).
Alone, I weep much and am fearfully sorry for myself.
A solás lloro mucho y tengo compasión atroz de mí mismo.
—ECHEGARAY.
We left him alone with his conscience.
Le dejamos a solas con su conciencia.—EMILIA PARDO BAZÁN.
73. The verb to hear is oír when actual hearing is meant. Sometimes sentir is used in the same sense.
I put my ear to the lock and heard voices and laughter.
Pegué el oído a la cerradura y oí voces y risas.
—PALACIO VALDÉS.
Scarcely did she hear the noise and see us, when she got up.
No bien sintió el ruido y nos vió, se levantó.—JUAN VALERA.
(a) When to hear has the force of to find out, learn, it is rendered saber.
You have heard from my father how much these orchards please me.
Ha sabido por mi padre lo mucho que me gustan estas huertas.
—JUAN VALERA.
74. EXERCISES
(a) 1. Yo no puedo trasnochar. Es lo único que me hace daño. 2. Un día le vieron solo y se acercaron para hablarle. 3. Hablaba a solas con el Argentino. 4. Sólo de oirle se puso más animado. 5. Supe por mi hermano que ustedes asistieron al teatro anoche. 6. Solo aquel hombre podría adquirir tanto dinero en tan poco tiempo. 7. El tío que había sido el único apoyo de la familia acababa de morir. 8. ¡Déjele a este niño! ¿Por qué se burla usted de él? 9. Hay solamente tres aquí. ¿Tres, nada más?
(b) 1. He alone knew what had been done for them. 2. I have heard from home only once this week. 3. He has many books in his library, but only a few are good. 4. I think I hear a child crying. Well, it's only the children playing in the yard. 5. Leave the room. I want to speak with your brother alone. 6. We heard something like a groan, but I think it was only the wind. 7. Did you hear what happened this morning? You didn't? (¿no?) Well, I meant to tell you when we were alone. 8. We drink only water. 9. The lesson wasn't hard. It was only that I didn't have much time. 10. This is the only time that I have been able to see you alone.