לא רק … אלא גם …
Not Only but Also
לא רק ... אלא גם means not only ... but also. It affirms both parts while emphasizing that the first is not the whole story.
How It Works
Two Parallel Parts
The pair can connect actions, people or other comparable phrases: לא רק דנה, אלא גם יעל. Keep the two parts parallel enough that the listener can identify what is being added.
What לא Negates
לא negates the restriction רק, only, in this construction. It does not normally negate the first fact itself. היא לא קוראת, אלא כותבת is a different contrast: she does not read, but writes.
Read the Parallel Parts
In לא רק דנה באה, אלא גם יעל, the second name shares the coming event already named. The full action examples instead give each verb explicitly. Keep these relationships clear when joining the two parts.
Examples (4)
- היא לא רק קוראת, אלא גם כותבת.
She not only reads but also writes.
Both actions are affirmed.
- הוא לא רק למד, אלא גם לימד.
He not only studied but also taught.
The second action adds to the first.
- לא רק דנה באה, אלא גם יעל.
Not only Dana came, but Yael did too.
The second name shares the understood coming event.
- הספר לא רק קצר, אלא גם ברור.
The book is not only short but also clear.
Two adjective predicates are added together.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Affirm two parallel contributions while denying that the first is the only contribution.
Related Patterns
Practice לא רק … אלא גם … in Bubblegum
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