nielen ... ale aj
Not Only ... but Also
Put nielen before the first part and ale aj before the second: Hovorí nielen po slovensky, ale aj po maďarsky.
How It Works
The pattern. Nielen ... ale aj links two things and treats the second one as an extra, often stronger point. Nielen goes right in front of the first part, and ale aj goes in front of the second:
- nielen po slovensky, ale aj po maďarsky (not only Slovak but also Hungarian)
- nielen deti, ale aj dospelí (not only children but also adults)
- nielen s prácou, ale aj s peniazmi (not only with the work but also with money)
Keep the two parts parallel: two adjectives, two nouns in the same case, or two phrases with the same preposition.
Comma. Slovak always puts a comma before ale here, even when it only joins two words: nielen smiešny, ale aj múdry. See commas before conjunctions.
Variants. Instead of ale aj you can say ale i (a little more bookish) or ale tiež. To join two whole clauses, many speakers use nielenže: Nielenže meškal, ale aj zabudol kľúče. (Not only was he late, he also forgot the keys.)
Negative sentences. When both parts are negative, the second part uses ani instead of aj, just as with aj, tiež and ani: Nielenže neprišiel, ale ani nezavolal. (Not only did he not come, he did not even call.)
Spelling. Nielen and nielenže are single words.
Examples (6)
- Hovorí nielen po slovensky, ale aj po maďarsky.
She speaks not only Slovak but also Hungarian.
Word by Word: She-speaks not-only in-Slovak, but also in-Hungarian.
- Ten film je nielen smiešny, ale aj múdry.
That film is not only funny but also clever.
Word by Word: That film is not-only funny, but also clever.
- Nielen deti, ale aj dospelí sa tešia na Vianoce.
Not only children but also adults look forward to Christmas.
Word by Word: Not-only children, but also adults self rejoice on Christmas.
- Pomohol nám nielen s prácou, ale aj s peniazmi.
He helped us not only with the work but also with money.
Word by Word: He-helped to-us not-only with work, but also with money.
- Slovensko je známe nielen horami, ale aj jaskyňami.
Slovakia is known not only for its mountains but also for its caves.
Word by Word: Slovakia is known not-only by-mountains, but also by-caves.
- Nielenže neprišiel, ale ani nezavolal.
Not only did he not come, he didn't even call.
Word by Word: Not-only-that not-came, but not-even not-called.
Both parts are negative, so the second one uses ani.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before ale.
Hovorí nielen po slovensky ale aj po maďarsky.Hovorí nielen po slovensky, ale aj po maďarsky.A comma always comes before ale in this pattern, even between two short parts.
Writing nielen as two words.
Hovorí nie len po slovensky, ale aj po maďarsky.Hovorí nielen po slovensky, ale aj po maďarsky.In the meaning "not only", nielen is one word.
Using aj after a negative first part.
Nielenže neprišiel, ale aj nezavolal.Nielenže neprišiel, ale ani nezavolal.When the second part is negative too, Slovak uses ani (not even), not aj.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Not Only ... but Also, learn And, But and Or and Also, Too and Not Even. nielen ... ale aj strengthens a and ale. aj adds the second item.
Related Patterns
- Commas Before Conjunctions
Lists nielen ... ale aj among the pairs that always need a comma.
Level 4 - síce ... aleAdmittedly ... but
Another two-part pattern with ale, but it grants a point instead of adding one.
Level 4 - dokonca / baEven: Dokonca and Ba
Also adds a stronger point, often after the first one has been said.
Level 5 - ani ... aniNeither ... nor
A two-part pattern for negative sentences: neither ... nor.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice nielen ... ale aj in Bubblegum
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