не стільки..., скільки...
Not So Much as Correlation
The pattern не стільки..., скільки... (not so much... as...) is used to reframe a comparison. It suggests that while the first part might be true, the second part is the real point of focus.
How It Works
In Ukrainian, не стільки..., скільки... functions as a paired correlative marker to connect homogeneous parts of a sentence or entire clauses. It suggests that while both parts may be true, the second part is a more accurate or significant description.
1. Usage and Nuance:
Unlike a simple не А, а Б (not A, but B) construction, this pattern implies a matter of degree. It is often used to refine a definition or shift focus to a more important factor.
2. Punctuation:
A comma is always mandatory before the second part (скільки).
3. Morphology and Case Agreement:
In formal, standard Ukrainian (including academic writing and standardized testing), стільки and скільки function as pronominal numerals and must agree in case with the nouns they modify. While you may hear fixed forms in casual speech, formal registers require forms like стількох/скількох (Genitive/Accusative/Locative) or стільком/скільком (Dative). The fixed forms are only standard when modifying verbs or when the nouns are in the Nominative case.
4. Alternatives:
A common and equally valid variant is не стільки..., як.... For expressing preference or reclassification, you might also use радше..., ніж... or the more traditional не так..., як....
Examples (4)
- Це не стільки помилка, скільки наслідок поспіху.
This is not so much a mistake as a result of haste.
Word by Word: This not so-much mistake, as-much consequence [of] haste.
In the nominative case, the fixed forms 'не стільки' and 'скільки' are used to contrast two nouns.
- Він боявся не стількох ворогів, скількох власних сумнівів.
He feared not so much the enemies as his own doubts.
Word by Word: He feared not so-many [gen.] enemies, as-many [gen.] own doubts.
This example demonstrates mandatory case agreement in the genitive case, which is required in formal Ukrainian.
- Справа не в стількох грошах, у скількох принципах.
The matter is not so much in the money as in the principles.
Word by Word: Matter not in so-much [loc.] money, in as-much [loc.] principles.
When used with prepositions in the locative case, the markers must decline to match the case of the nouns they modify.
- Вона не стільки співає, скільки розповідає історію.
She doesn't so much sing as tell a story.
Word by Word: She not so-much sings, as-much tells story.
When connecting verbs, the fixed adverbial forms are used because there is no noun to agree with in case.
Common Mistakes
Omitting the comma before 'скільки'.
Це не стільки робота скільки хобі.Це не стільки робота, скільки хобі.In 'не стільки…, скільки…', put a comma before the second part, скільки.
Misplacing the negative particle 'не'.
Не це стільки робота, скільки хобі.Це не стільки робота, скільки хобі.The particle 'не' must immediately precede 'стільки' to correctly form the correlative pair.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the 'не стільки..., скільки...' construction, you need to understand how to negate nouns and adjectives, how basic comparisons are formed in Ukrainian, and how word order is used to emphasize specific information (topic and focus).
- це не + NounNegative Identification
The pattern uses 'не' to negate the first element of the comparison, similar to basic negative identification.
Level 1 - ніж / заComparison Standard with Ніж and За
Understanding how Ukrainian structures comparisons is fundamental to grasping this correlative construction.
Level 2 - Topic-focus word order
This pattern relies on specific word order to shift focus from one concept to another.
Level 5
Related Patterns
- радше..., ніж...Preference or Reclassification Радше Ніж
A common alternative used to express preference or reclassification, often considered more 'purely' Ukrainian than the target pattern.
Level 6 - не + NounNegating Nouns with Не
The basic negation of a noun, which forms the first half of the contrast in this pattern.
Level 1 - той, хто / те, щоCorrelative Relative Constructions
Another type of correlative construction that uses paired pronouns to link parts of a sentence.
Level 3 - порівняно з + InstrumentalAcademic Comparison Frame
A formal academic frame used for comparison, similar in register to 'не стільки..., скільки...'.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice не стільки..., скільки... in Bubblegum
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