न केवल ... बल्कि ... भी
Not Only ... but Also
न केवल X, बल्कि Y भी means not only X but also Y: both are true.
How It Works
This pattern adds a second point to a first one, and often makes the second point feel bigger. Nothing is denied: the न goes with केवल (only), so न केवल means not only.
| Part | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| न केवल | right before the first item |
| बल्कि | at the start of the second part, after a comma |
| भी | right after the added word |
The two items should match:
- two verbs: वह न केवल गाती है, बल्कि नाचती भी है।
- two nouns: हमें न केवल समय, बल्कि जगह भी चाहिए।
- two adjectives: यह रास्ता न केवल छोटा है, बल्कि सुरक्षित भी है।
When the second item is a verb, भी sits between the verb and है: नाचती भी है.
न केवल sounds a little formal. In conversation, न सिर्फ़ is very common and works the same way: न सिर्फ़ हिंदी, बल्कि पंजाबी भी.
Examples (5)
- रीना न केवल गाती है, बल्कि नृत्य भी करती है।
Reena not only sings but also dances.
भी sits inside the verb phrase: नृत्य भी करती है.
- हमें न केवल समय, बल्कि जगह भी चाहिए।
We need not only time but also space.
Two nouns are joined, and both are needed.
- यह रास्ता न केवल छोटा है, बल्कि सुरक्षित भी है।
This road is not only short but also safe.
Two adjectives describe the same road.
- वह न सिर्फ़ हिंदी, बल्कि पंजाबी भी बोलता है।
He speaks not only Hindi but Punjabi too.
In everyday speech, सिर्फ़ often takes the place of केवल.
- न केवल बच्चे, बल्कि बड़े भी यह फ़िल्म पसंद करते हैं।
Not only children but adults too love this film.
Here the two items are both subjects of the same verb.
Common Mistakes
Putting भी before the added word.
वह न केवल गाती है, बल्कि भी नाचती है।वह न केवल गाती है, बल्कि नाचती भी है।भी always follows the word it adds, so it comes after नाचती.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Not only ... but also combines केवल, बल्कि and भी.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice न केवल ... बल्कि ... भी in Bubblegum
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