GRAMMAR ALERT: NOT ONLY

Suppose I want to say: She not only helped me to find a job but also let me stay in her flat for a few months. Is it correct?

What about the following sentence: The place doesn’t only depress me but also makes me feel frightened? '

Answer: Sentence 1 is correct but sentence 2 is not. Sentence 2 should be changed into 'The place not only depresses me but also makes me feel frightened.'

REMEMBER: Not only ....but also is used WITHOUT do\does\did.

Here are more examples for you:

She not only speaks like Cicero but also has considerable legal expertise.

The war not only caused destruction and death but also stirred up intense hatred between the two nations.

Bonus: You can start your sentence with not only for emphasis. Then it will be followed by an auxiliary verb and the subject.

Not only did she overcome her severe illness but also made an invaluable contribution to political science.

Not only do they cherish their time-honored traditions but also make sure considerable knowledge is handed down from generation to generation.

If you have any questions about English grammar, don’t hesitate to ask us. We’ll be happy to clarify anything that is still a grey area for you !

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