English Grammar

Using not only ... but also

Students often find it difficult to use the correlative conjunction not only but also correctly.

Using not only ... but also

Students often find it difficult to use the correlative conjunction not only but also correctly.

When you use not only but also in a sentence, you have to ensure that not only and but also go immediately before the words or

expressions that they modify.

• She is not only intelligent but also beautiful.

When using a correlative conjunction, both clauses have to be

parallel. That means you have to use them before two nouns, two adjectives, two verbs etc. Study the following examples.

• They need not only food but also shelter. (Here we use nouns (food and shelter) after not only and but also.)
• She is not only rich but also generous. (Here we use adjectives (rich and generous) after not only and but also.)
• My uncle not only brought me to the city but also found a good job for me. (Here we use verb phrases after not only and but also.)

Not only can go at the beginning of a sentence. In this case, it is followed by auxiliary verb + subject. If there is no other auxiliary verb, we use do. But can be left out in this case.

Not only did my uncle bring me to the city, but he also found

a good job for me.

OR Not only did my uncle bring me to the city; he also found a

good job for me.

Not only is Jack working at a pub, but he is also doing his

graduation.

OR

Not only is Jack working at a pub; he is also doing his

graduation.

Not only is Susan going to England, but she is also going to

France.

OR

Not only is Susan going to England; she is also going to France.

The Rule: In the not only . . . but also construction, the two

items connected must be similar in kind.

So:

Wrong: He not only painted the "Annunciation" but also [painted] the "Mona Lisa."
Right: He painted not only the "Annunciation" but also the "Mona Lisa."

Wrong: He not only played for Washington but also for Detroit and Pittsburgh.
Right: He played not only for Washington but also for Detroit and Pittsburgh.


Wrong: He not only coached soccer but also tennis.
Right: He coached not only soccer but also tennis.

Right: He taught not only physics and chemistry but also algebra and geometry.

Right: He not only taught five periods a day but also coached

three sports.