_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.