Meaning
Adding a stronger or parallel point with emphasis through inversion
Primary Function
Correlative addition with fronting for emphasis
Communicative Purpose
To highlight an additional piece of information as equally or more important
Pattern
Not only; but also
Core Structure
Not only; but also
Função primária
Correlative addition with fronting for emphasis
Propósito comunicativo
To highlight an additional piece of information as equally or more important
Situações de gatilho
Persuasive writing, speeches, presenting multiple benefits
Contextos
Presentations, essays, formal speeches
Padrão
Not only; but also
Estrutura central
Not only; but also
Slots de substituição
auxiliary verb and subject; main verb
Colocados típicos
- Not only does it…
- Not only is it…
- Not only have they…
- but also…
Substituições comuns
- “Not just… but…” (less formal
- no inversion)
Erros comuns
Forgetting inversion: *Not only it saves time, but also money.* → Not only does it save time…; omitting “but also” completely.
Similar / contraste
“Not just … but …” ; “As well as …”
Interferências
Romance languages often maintain normal word order after similar phrases
Família do chunk
- negative-adverb inversion frames
Nuance
Very emphatic; considered elegant in formal writing
Efeito pragmático
Adds rhetorical flair; builds impressive parallelism
Dica de memória
Not only does it…, but it also…
Nota
Inversion with 'Not only' requires the auxiliary verb to precede the subject. This structure emphasizes an additional point and is common in formal contexts.
Upgrade path
Extend to two full clauses: “Not only did they deliver on time, but they also came in under budget”
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