base on 問題

There was no strong organizational base on which to build.
這裡的 base on 並不是 phrasal verb

base (名詞) = 基礎

~ organizational base (形容詞 + 名詞) = 組織上的基礎
~ build on (phrase verb) = 建基於 ... 之上
~ to build on a strong organizational base 建基於 鞏固的組織基礎 之上

You can use a relative clause to modify the noun phrase "strong organizational base".
~ a strong organizational base "on which we need to build"
(relative clause = on which we need to build = that we need to build on)

(全句) There is no strong organizational base on which we need to build.

You can also use an infinitive phrase to modify it. ("we" is the subject)
~ a strong organizational base (that we need) "to build on"

(全句) We have no strong organizational base to build on.
(全句) There is no strong organizational base for us to build on.


副詞 only
It is a Focusing Adverb to "limit" the meaning of a part of the sentence. The placement of the adverb results in different focus and meaning.

不同位置 有 不同的 強調重點 和 意義：

1. Before the subject
ONLY we can live today. (nobody else can live today)

2. Before the main verb
We can ONLY live today. (we can do nothing but live today)

3. Before the adverb of time
We can live ONLY today. (we can no longer live after today)

這句的拆字/phrase是如下的

There was
no strong
organizational base
on which
to build.

並不像你看作base on是一組phrase...base on是平時見到的一組，意思是「基於」，但這句中的寫法作者使用了較為complex的寫法。只要你留意orgainizational是一個形容詞，便應該留意它要有一個名詞去被形容，接住的字base便是這個名詞(不是動詞了)。這是關鍵亦測驗出你自己有需要提升英文理解和詞彙能力了。

on which是按所要指示的infinitive"to build"的意思上作出配合的preposition而用on，因為作者想講的是前述的東西build on，因此修辭變化寫為on which to build。which的修飾可以用不同的preposition: in which, on which, at which, by which都是配合所要表達的意思的"關係"-在某東西當中/裏面, 建基在上面, 鑑於在某重點, 因為某理由/由某人/物導致。

全句的拆解意思是:

(上文引述)並未有有力的組織性理據作為建立(這說法)的基礎。