nejenže ..., nýbrž / ale i

The pattern nejenže ..., nýbrž/ale (i) creates a gradational relationship (stupňovací poměr) between two clauses or predicates. It does not merely link two facts; it escalates them.

Key Rules for Usage:

• Clause Attachment: Nejenže usually introduces full clauses or predicates. While it can connect phrases sharing a subject (e.g., Nejenže hraje na klavír, ale i zpívá. – Not only does he play the piano, but he also sings.), it cannot be used to connect simple object nouns in a list. For simple nouns, you must drop the -že and use nejen paired with ale i, ale také, nýbrž i, or similar expressions.
• The Additive Particle: While it is grammatically possible to omit the additive particle in the second clause, it is much more common and advisable to include particles like i, také, or dokonce. This completes the standard correlative pair and emphasizes the gradational relationship already established by nejenže. The additive particle does not have to sit immediately next to ale; it can detach and sit right next to the emphasized word. Note that ale hlavně and ale především are very common ways native speakers escalate the second clause.
• Alternative Second Clauses: You can drop the conjunction entirely and let the clause stand alone with an adverb (e.g., , navíc – , moreover).
• Negative Pattern: When the second clause is negative, the additive particle usually changes to ani and the verb must be negated. This applies whether the first clause is negative (e.g., Nejenže nepřišel, ale ani se neomluvil. – Not only did he not come, but he didn't even apologize.) or positive (e.g., Nejenže přišel pozdě, ale ani se neomluvil. – Not only did he arrive late, but he didn't even apologize.). Conversely, a negative first clause can be followed by a positive escalating action (e.g., Nejenže mi nepomohl, ale dokonce se mi vysmál. – Not only did he not help me, but he even laughed at me.).
• Mandatory Comma: The conjunctions ale and nýbrž always require a preceding comma in this gradational pattern. This is a crucial rule: you must use a comma before them whether you are connecting full clauses or simple sentence members (e.g., Koupil nejen jablka, ale i hrušky. – He bought not only apples, but also pears.). This is a common trap for learners who might confuse it with the simple addition of a or i.
• Word Order: Nejenže does not have to be the first word of the sentence; it frequently follows the subject. Crucially for English speakers, starting a sentence with nejenže does not trigger subject-verb inversion. Standard Czech word order applies.
• Clitic Placement: When nejenže starts a sentence, it usually occupies Position 1, meaning any second-position clitics (like se, si, mi) immediately follow it (e.g., Nejenže se mi neomluvil... – Not only did he not apologize to me...). While it can occasionally function as a coordinating conjunction in Position 0 (allowing another element like the subject to take Position 1, e.g., Nejenže on se mi omluvil... – Not only did he apologize to me...), this is less standard and less frequent. If the subject comes first, the clitic usually follows the subject, not the conjunction (e.g., Petr se nejenže neomluvil... – Petr not only didn't apologize...).

Register and Nuance:

• Nejenže ..., ale (i): Highly frequent, standard, and completely neutral. Used in both everyday speech and formal writing.
• Nejenže ..., nýbrž (i): Distinctly formal, literary, or slightly archaic. The word nýbrž is rarely used in casual spoken Czech.
• Nejenomže ..., ale (i): A highly frequent variant in spoken and informal Czech (along with nejenom for simple nouns).

Spelling Note: The conjunction can be written as one word (nejenže, nejenomže) or two words (nejen že, nejenom že). The official Internet Language Reference Book considers both spellings equally correct, though the one-word spelling is more frequent and often preferred to avoid punctuation confusion.