grammar · neutral
The only + N + who/that + V
Used to emphasise that a single person or thing in a group is the one that does something.
Examples
“She was the only student who answered every question.”
“This is the only study that provides long‑term data.”
“He was the only witness who could identify the suspect.”
Band 8 sentence
“He was the only candidate who combined academic excellence with relevant industry experience.”
Collocations
- the only student who
- the only research that
Word family
Common mistakes
She was only student who passed.→She was the only student who passed.
This is the only study which provides long‑term data,→This is the only study that provides long‑term data.
Say it for a higher band
5Only student passed→6She was only student who→7+The only + N + who/that + V
Synonyms
the only one who
Easily confused
the only one who vs the only who
“He was the only one who objected.”
that vs which
“This is the only report that includes recent data.”
Related words
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In Relative clauses
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