the only后面可以接复数名词吗

问题描述

the only 的意思是“唯一的”，它后面好像通常是接单数名词。如：
It was the only course open to him. 这是他可采取的唯一方法。
She was the only candidate for the post. 她是该职位的唯一候选人。
请问，the only后面可以接复数名词吗？

老师答疑

曾老师：

the only可以修饰复数名词，表示“唯一的一些”。如：

They were the only two men at that time. 当时就只有他们两人。《简明英汉词典》

We were the only people there. 只有我们在那里。《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》

We were the only people wearing hats. 只有我们戴了帽子。（张道真《现代英语用法词典》）

The only passengers, a young woman and her two baby daughters, were unhurt. 飞机上的旅客只有一位年轻妇女和她的两个女婴儿,她们没有受伤。《现代英汉词典》

黎老师：

与复数名词连用的 the only 的意思是“仅有的”。例如：
They were the only passengers who survived the accident. 他们是那场事故中唯一幸存下来的乘客。（《外研社英汉多功能词典》）

凯老师：