Introduction
This is certainly not a difficult topic at all in English grammar but
again mistakes do happen if you go at it casually. So, let’s learn this example
by example and things would be very clear at the end.
Examples:
1. He made tea and coffee.
Now, in this case there are two things which have happened that he has
made tea and coffee. Hence, we will use not only…. but also across them.
Note:
the verb made is applicable to both tea and coffee hence use not only just
before the noun tea.
That means we don’t have to write in this way : He not only made tea
but also coffee the correct statement would be as follows:
Answer: He made not only tea but also coffee.
2. He went into the kitchen and made tea and coffee.
Now, in this case there are three events that have happened and hence
three nouns kitchen,
tea and coffee. But, the two likely or similar nouns are tea and coffee. Therefore we will use not only……
but also across them.
Again in this case made is applicable for both tea and coffee hence we will use not
only just before the noun tea and after the verb made.
Answer: He went into the kitchen and made not only tea but also coffee.
3. He went into the kitchen and made tea.
Now, this case is different from the above cases. The verb went in the
sentence is only applicable to kitchen and not with tea and the verb
made stands for only tea. Hence, this time not only will not come
immediately before the noun kitchen instead it will come before went and but also
as usual will come in place of and.
Answer: He not only went into the kitchen but also made tea.
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.
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