Not only… but also…

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn / not just不仅bù jǐn … ，moreover而且ér qiě / still / also还hái / also也yě … (not only … but also)

More than one talent

• You are introducing a new classmate who is a strong student and a great athlete.
• he / him他tānot just不仅bù jǐnto learn学习xué xígood好hǎo，moreover而且ér qiěbasketball篮球lán qiúto beat打dǎ(degree marker)得dealso也yědegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo。 – "Not only is he a good student, he's also great at basketball."

not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn / not just不仅bù jǐn A，moreover而且ér qiě / still / also还hái / also也yě B

• not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn / not just不仅bù jǐn A，moreover而且ér qiě B = not only A, but also B; B adds a further, often stronger point.
• moreover而且ér qiě can combine with still / also还hái / also也yě: moreover而且ér qiě还会hái huìto sing a song唱歌chàng gē. not just不仅bù jǐn is a little more formal.

she她tānot only不仅bù jǐncan会huìspeak说shuōEnglish英语Yīng yǔ，but also而且ér qiěcan会huìspeak说shuōFrench法语Fǎ yǔ。

Two subjects

• With different subjects, not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn / not just不仅bù jǐn go before the first subject: not just不仅bù jǐnstudent学生xué shēngto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā，teacher老师lǎo shīalso也yěto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā。 – "Not only do the students like him, the teachers do too."
• With one subject, they follow it: he / him他tānot only (... but also ...)不但bù dànintelligent聪明cōng míng，moreover而且ér qiědegree / adjective linker很hěnto make an effort努力nǔ lì.

not only不仅bù jǐnstudents学生xué shenglike喜欢xǐ huanhim他tā，teachers老师lǎo shīalso也yělike喜欢xǐ huanhim他tā。

Placement with one or two subjects

• One subject: subject first, then not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn: he / him他tānot only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn…. Two subjects: not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn first: not only (... but also ...)不但bù dànhe / him他tā…，moreover而且ér qiěI / me我wǒalso也yě….
• The two points go the same direction; for a contrast use but但是dàn shì.

not only (... but also ...)不但bù dànnot不bù…，on the contrary反而fǎn ér…

• not only (... but also ...)不但bù dànnot不bù A，on the contrary反而fǎn ér B = not only not A, but (contrary to expectation) B: variant of 吃吃chī(completed / change)了lemedicine药yào，illness病bìngnot only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn没好méi hǎo，on the contrary反而fǎn ér更重gèng zhòng(completed / change)了le.
• This variant reverses expectations instead of adding a point.

the illness病bìngnot only不但bú dàndidn't没méiget better好hǎo，instead反而fǎn éreven more更gèngserious重zhòng了le。

Recap

• not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn / not just不仅bù jǐn A，moreover而且ér qiě / still / also还hái / also也yě B = not only A, but also B.
• One subject: after it; two subjects: before the first. not only (... but also ...)不但bù dànnot不bù…on the contrary反而fǎn ér… reverses expectation.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn / not just不仅bù jǐn … ，moreover而且ér qiě / still / also还hái / also也yě … (not only … but also)

2601.1 Complete: “This phone is not only cheap but also good quality.” this这个zhè gecell phone手机shǒu jīnot just不仅bù jǐncheap便宜pián yi，…………quality质量zhì liàngdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo。

2601.2 Which sentence is correct for two subjects?

• A. student学生xué shēngnot just不仅bù jǐnto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā，teacher老师lǎo shīalso也yěto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā。
• B. not just不仅bù jǐnstudent学生xué shēngto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā，also也yěteacher老师lǎo shīto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā。
• C. student学生xué shēngto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tānot just不仅bù jǐn，teacher老师lǎo shīalso也yěto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā。
• D. not just不仅bù jǐnstudent学生xué shēngto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā，teacher老师lǎo shīalso也yěto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā。

2601.3 Build: “The illness not only didn't improve, it got worse.”

Arrange all chunks: ， / illness病bìngnot only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn没好méi hǎo / 更重gèng zhòng(completed / change)了le。 / on the contrary反而fǎn ér

2601.4 With one subject, not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn comes after the subject.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2601.5 You are introducing a new classmate who is a strong student and a great athlete. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A learner uses not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn他会tā huìChinese language中文zhōng wén，moreover而且ér qiěEnglish (language)英文yīng wén too. Repair the sentence and keep the same subject.

R2. Use it yourself. Describe a library that is quiet and also conveniently located, with not just不仅bù jǐn.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.