no solo...sino también
Not Only...But Also
Use 'no solo... sino también...' to say 'not only... but also...'.
How It Works
No solo... sino también... means “not only... but also...”. It presents both elements as applying, often giving extra emphasis to the second. No negates the restriction “only”; it does not deny the first element.
Connect Parallel Elements
The two parts should have matching roles in the sentence: Compró no solo libros, sino también revistas (“She bought not only books but also magazines”). You can similarly connect descriptions or infinitive phrases.
Connecting Finite Clauses
In the general standard construction, use sino que when the second part is a clause with its own conjugated verb: No solo llegó tarde, sino que también olvidó la presentación. The rule concerns clause structure, not whether the two verbs are different: No solo habla español, sino que también habla francés repeats habla and still uses que.
Variation
No solamente can replace no solo. También is often used but may be omitted when the additive meaning is clear: No solo es inteligente, sino muy trabajador. Write a comma before sino. Use sino for the usual correlative “not only... but also...” pattern; pero normally introduces a contrasting statement.
Omission of que before a finite verb is attested regionally and in older or deliberately archaizing language. For general contemporary standard writing, use sino que in that clause pattern.
Examples (5)
- No solo habla español, sino también portugués y francés.
He not only speaks Spanish, but also Portuguese and French.
Word by Word: Not only he-speaks Spanish, but also Portuguese and French.
This example connects three nouns (español, portugués, francés) in a parallel structure.
- No solo estudió para el examen, sino que también preparó un resumen para sus compañeros.
She not only studied for the exam, but she also prepared a summary for her classmates.
Word by Word: Not only she-studied for the exam, but that also she-prepared a summary for her classmates.
Sino que también introduces the second finite clause, with preparó. The need for que follows from clause structure, not simply from using a different verb.
- El proyecto fue no solo innovador, sino también increíblemente rentable.
The project was not only innovative, but also incredibly profitable.
Word by Word: The project was not only innovative, but also incredibly profitable.
This example connects two adjectives ('innovador' and 'rentable') that describe the project.
- Para estar sano, no solo debes hacer ejercicio, sino también comer bien.
To be healthy, you must not only exercise, but also eat well.
Word by Word: For to-be healthy, not only you-must to-do exercise, but also to-eat well.
This shows the structure connecting two verb phrases in the infinitive ('hacer ejercicio' and 'comer bien').
- La empresa no solo ofrece buenos salarios, sino que también brinda excelentes beneficios.
The company not only offers good salaries, but it also provides excellent benefits.
Word by Word: The company not only offers good salaries, but that also it-provides excellent benefits.
Common Mistakes
General contemporary standard writing: omitting que before a second finite clause.
No solo corrió cinco kilómetros, sino también nadó en la piscina.No solo corrió cinco kilómetros, sino que también nadó en la piscina.Use sino que también before the finite clause nadó en la piscina in general contemporary standard writing. Que omission is attested in regional and older usage, so the version shown is not a universal error across every variety or period.
Intended structure: the usual correlative “not only... but also...” construction.
No solo es rápido, pero también es eficiente.No solo es rápido, sino también eficiente.Use sino (or sino que before a finite clause) for this correlative addition. Pero normally adds a contrast instead. This card practices the usual correlative pattern rather than declaring every possible sentence with no solo and pero ungrammatical.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'no solo...sino también', you first need to understand basic negation and how to link ideas using conjunctions. Since this is a correlative structure (where two parts work together), familiarity with other comparative or additive structures like 'tanto...como' helps in understanding how to balance the two parts of the sentence.
- no + VerbBasic Negation
The pattern uses the basic negation particle 'no' as its starting point to negate the first element of the addition.
Foundations - tanto...comoAs Much...As
This pattern introduces the concept of correlative conjunctions used for emphasis, which is the same functional category as 'no solo...sino también'.
Level 5
Related Patterns
- cuanto más...más/cuanto menos...menosCorrelative Comparatives
Like 'no solo... sino también', this is another correlative construction that uses two parts to link clauses. While 'no solo...' adds information, 'cuanto más...' shows a proportional relationship ('the more... the more...'). Understanding one helps in recognizing the pattern of two-part connectors.
Level 5 - sin embargo/no obstanteHowever/Nevertheless
These are contrastive connectors, similar in function to 'pero'. Comparing them with the additive function of 'no solo... sino también' helps clarify the different logical relationships between ideas (addition vs. contrast).
Level 5 - ni siquieraNot Even
Ni siquiera means “not even” and denies an expected minimum. No solo... sino también adds a second item; the added qualities or events can be favorable or unfavorable.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice no solo...sino también in Bubblegum
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