dili lang ... kondili ... usab

Not Only but Also

Level 4

dili lang [A] ... kondili [B] usab
Translates to: "Not only [A] but also [B]."

How It Works

The expression dili lang ... kondili ... usab is a Level 4 pattern because it requires coordinating two distinct parts of a sentence while maintaining specific particle placement.

  • Dili lang: This starts the phrase. While lang is the standard form, you may see lamang in very formal or religious texts.
  • Kondili: This is a specific contrastive conjunction. Unlike apan (which means a general "but"), kondili is used specifically after a negation to provide the "correct" or "additional" information.
  • Usab: This particle (meaning "also") is essential to complete the logic of the sentence. In daily conversation, it is frequently shortened to sab or pud.

Placement of Usab:
Unlike English where "also" can move around, in Cebuano, usab (or sab) usually follows the specific word it is adding to the context (e.g., gwapa usab, magtutudlo usab).

Register:
This is the standard form for journalism, literature, and public speaking. In very casual speech, speakers might drop kondili and just say Dili lang [A], [B] sab, but using the full pattern demonstrates a high level of proficiency.

Examples (4)

  1. Dili lang siya maalam, kondili buotan usab.

    He is not only intelligent, but also kind.

    Word by Word: Not only he intelligent, but-rather kind also.

    Here, the pattern connects two adjectives describing the same person.

  2. Dili lang sa pagkaon mabuhi ang tawo, kondili sa matag pulong usab sa Dios.

    Man does not live by food alone, but also by every word of God.

    Word by Word: Not only by food live the person, but-rather by every word also of God.

    This formal example shows the pattern used with prepositional phrases (sa pagkaon / sa matag pulong).

  3. Ang maong proyekto dili lang makatabang sa mga mag-uuma, kondili makahatag usab og trabaho sa mga batan-on.

    The said project will not only help the farmers, but also provide jobs for the youth.

    Word by Word: The said project not only can-help to-the plural farmer, but-rather can-give also [object] job to-the plural youth.

    This demonstrates the pattern connecting two full verbal clauses.

  4. Dili lang kape ang iyang giinom, kondili gatas usab.

    It wasn't only coffee that he drank, but also milk.

    Word by Word: Not only coffee the his drank, but-rather milk also.

    This shows the pattern used with nouns to clarify what was consumed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'apan' instead of 'kondili'.

    Dili lang siya maalam apan buotan usab.
    Dili lang siya maalam kondili buotan usab.

    'Apan' is for general contrast. When you start with a negation like 'dili lang', the specific correlative 'kondili' is required to introduce the addition.

  • Omitting the 'usab' at the end.

    Dili lang lami kondili barato.
    Dili lang lami kondili barato usab.

    Without 'usab' (or 'sab'), the sentence feels grammatically incomplete in Cebuano, as if the 'also' logic was never finished.

  • Using the Tagalog word 'kundi'.

    Dili lang siya maalam kundi buotan usab.
    Dili lang siya maalam kondili buotan usab.

    'Kundi' is a Tagalog loanword. While understood, 'kondili' is the correct and authentic Cebuano term.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

dili lang ... kondili ... usabLevel 4Not Only but Also

Learn This First

To understand 'dili lang... kondili... usab', you first need to know how to form a basic contrast using 'dili... kondili' (not X but Y). You then add the limiting particle 'lang' (only) to the first part and the additive particle 'usab' (also) to the second part to create the 'not only... but also' construction.

Words in This Pattern