ne tikai ... bet arī
Not Only ... but Also
Ne tikai ..., bet arī means not only ... but also. The second part adds something more: Viņa runā ne tikai latviski, bet arī lietuviski (She speaks not only Latvian but also Lithuanian).
How It Works
1. Adding a second point. Both things are true, and the second one is often the more surprising: Rīgā ir ne tikai muzeji, bet arī skaisti parki (Riga has not only museums but also beautiful parks). The pair is built from tikai (only) and arī (also).
2. Matching parts. Put ne tikai right before the first part, and give the second part the same form:
- Adjectives: ne tikai interesanta, bet arī noderīga (not only interesting but also useful)
- Verbs: Viņš ne tikai strādā, bet arī mācās. (He not only works but also studies.)
- Nouns in the same case: Ne tikai bērniem, bet arī pieaugušajiem patīk šī filma. Both nouns are dative because patīk needs a dative.
3. The comma. With a paired conjunction the comma goes only before the second part: ne tikai latviski, bet arī lietuviski. No comma goes before ne tikai.
4. Literary style. Older and literary texts also use ne vien ..., bet arī with the same meaning.
Examples (5)
- Viņa runā ne tikai latviski, bet arī lietuviski.
She speaks not only Latvian but also Lithuanian.
- Rīgā ir ne tikai muzeji, bet arī skaisti parki.
Riga has not only museums but also beautiful parks.
Word by Word: In-Riga are not only museums, but also beautiful parks.
- Šī grāmata ir ne tikai interesanta, bet arī noderīga.
This book is not only interesting but also useful.
- Viņš ne tikai strādā, bet arī mācās.
He not only works but also studies.
Here both parts are verbs, so ne tikai comes right before the first verb.
- Ne tikai bērniem, bet arī pieaugušajiem patīk šī filma.
Not only children but also adults like this film.
Word by Word: Not only to-children, but also to-adults pleases this film.
Patīk needs the dative, so both bērniem and pieaugušajiem are dative.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before bet arī.
Viņa runā ne tikai latviski bet arī lietuviski.Viņa runā ne tikai latviski, bet arī lietuviski.Ne tikai ..., bet arī is a paired conjunction, and a comma goes before its second part.
Using un arī instead of bet arī.
Viņa runā ne tikai latviski, un arī lietuviski.Viņa runā ne tikai latviski, bet arī lietuviski.Ne tikai pairs with bet arī. Un arī does not complete ne tikai.
Giving the two parts different cases.
Ne tikai bērniem, bet arī pieaugušie patīk šī filma.Ne tikai bērniem, bet arī pieaugušajiem patīk šī filma.Both parts have the same job in the sentence. Patīk needs a dative, so the second noun is dative too: pieaugušajiem.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ne tikai ... bet arī adds a stronger point.
Related Patterns
- arīAlso: Arī
The second half uses arī (also).
Level 1 - gan ... ganBoth ... and
Gan ..., gan (both ... and) also joins two parts, without the sense of adding something more.
Level 3 - nevis ... betNot This but That
Nevis ..., bet replaces the first part instead of adding to it.
Level 4 - ne vien ... bet arīNot Only in Literary Style
The literary version of the same pair.
Level 6 - kā arīAs Well as: Kā Arī
Kā arī (as well as) is another way to add one more item.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ne tikai ... bet arī in Bubblegum
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