NOT ONLY----BUT ALSO

[max]

Hi Erin,
I am confused with the usage of correlative conjunctions NOT ONLY…..BUT ALSO.
One book (Barron’s) gives an explanation that correct structure is ‘NOT ONLY…..BUT ALSO’; and incorrect structure is ‘NOT ONLY…..BUT....any words.....ALSO’
For example,
Not only her parents but her brothers and sisters also live in Wisconsin. - is incorrect
Not only her parents but also her brothers and sisters live in Wisconsin. – is correct

Another book (Nelson-Toefl) gives an explanation that both these structures are correct.
For example,
Not only did they go but they also stayed until the end. - is correct

Which one is correct?
Please, help me to understand what is the difference between the correct and incorrect structures.
Thanks





Edited by - max on 2002 Jun 08 03:51:16

[Erin]

not only... but also... is a very important conjunction to know! See my post on parallel structure for more information:


http://www.TestMagic.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=570

Basically, when we use "not only... but also..." we usually need simply follow the basic rules of parallel structure, but when the two parts that are parallel are sentences, then we MUST ALSO use inversion. In other words, TWO rules apply. (Joke for Raghuveer: "Not only do we use parallel structure with "not only... but also," but we also need to invert the subject and verb with a sentence." ) See my page on inversion here:

http://www.TestMagic.com/Knowledge_B.../inversion.htm

Here are some examples:

Max (BTW, that's my cousin's name!) is not only smart, but also polite.

Not only is Max smart, but he is also polite.

Make sense??

Erin

TestMagic help you before your test?

Please remember to post after your test.

Please? Please?

[max]

Hi Erin,
Thanks a lot for your intelligible explanation. Nevertheless, I still have few questions.

Here are some examples:

Max (BTW, that's my cousin's name!) is not only smart, but also polite.

Not only is Max smart, but he is also polite.

Make sense??

I understand that in case of ‘NOT ONLY’ we have the inversion and so the first part of sentence must be ‘Not only is Max smart’
But I not understand a thing why the second part of sentence is “but he is also polite”.
In other word, would the sentence like ‘Not only is Max smart, but also he is polite’ be correct?

And another question,
Please, read a sentence from Nelson Toefl:

Not only the inflation rate was rising but unemployment, always a specter since the 1930’s, was on the increase.

- the correct answer is "the inflation’s rate"

Will this sentence have the correct structure (not only…..but)?

Does the structure "NOT ONLY….BUT" exist?

Thanks once again,
Max






Edited by - max on 2002 Jun 12 15:32:11