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Ask for help > Not only.....but also
Not only.....but also
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Nizarsouth
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Not only.....but also
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Hi colleagues! could you tell me which sentences are more familliar and correct using the conjunctions not only..... but also? 1- he can not only speak English but also German , 2- He not only can speak English but also German or 3-Not only can he speak English but also German. Have you got any link that would help me avoid confusion? Thanks a lot for your help.
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18 May 2012
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silvia.patti
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I would say "He can speak not only English but also German"...
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18 May 2012
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yanogator
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Yes, as silvia.patti said, but I would also use your 3rd choice. #1 would be used for "He can not only speak English, but can write it, too." #2 just doesn �t work. Bruce |
18 May 2012
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Tere-arg
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The correct sentence is "He can speak not only English but also German" (as Sylvia pointed out), but there are a number of words with restricted or negative meaning which can be placed heading the sentence for emphasis. Verb inversion is required when doing so. That�s why "Not only can he speak English but also German." is absolutely correct.
Other phrases used in this way: only.... ; never before ; hardly; hardly ever; seldom; rarely; scarcely, little among others.
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18 May 2012
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