Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 12/24

だけでなくて～もNot only ~ but ~ also, Not just ~ but ~ also

なくて = casual・colloquial, なく = formal・written

Structure

Noun + だけ + でなく（て）(1) + Noun + も

(1) じゃなく（て）

Details

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    Standard

About だけでなく(て)～も

As an extension of the standard だけでなく, meaning 'not only, but also', adding the adverbial particle も to the (B) part of a sentence will place extra emphasis on the thing that is being included in the same category as (A).

だけ itself is an adverbial particle, so will primarily follow nouns. After this, the negative conjunctive form of the auxiliary verb だ (でなく) will create the 'not only' meaning.

て is not strictly required as part of this structure, but will help to create a far more natural 'separation' between (A) and (B) when it is used.

Either じゃなく or じゃなくて may also be used, as is the case with all でなく and ではなく based grammar structures.

Examples

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    アイスクリームだけじゃなくて、プリンも買(か)いました。

    I didn't just buy ice cream, I also bought pudding.

    机(つくえ)だけじゃなくて、椅子(いす)もほしい。

    I don't just want a desk, I want a chair too.

    市場(いちば)だけでなく、スーパーにもいきませんか。

    Won't you not only go to the market, but the store too?

    君(きみ)だけじゃなく、僕(ぼく)も悪(わる)かったと思(おも)っている。

    It's not only you, I think that I am also to blame.

    体(からだ)だけじゃなく、心(こころ)も疲(つか)れてしまった。

    I am tired not only physically but mentally as well.

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だけでなく(て)～も – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • seanblue

    seanblue

    I think you should remove the second link (https://www.italki.com/question/331598) from the resources. The first answer to that question gives conflicting statements about the formality of なく vs なくて, and I think it could cause confusion.

  • Scyamntic

    Scyamntic

    Is there a nuance/usage rule to だけではなくて vs だけでなくて? My gut feeling is that the former marks the “not only X” part of the thought as the core subject. And if I where to add anything further, it would add to the “why” of “not only A but also B”. e.g. “I not only like ice cream but also pudding, because when I was younger the girl I liked shared some with me”. Whereas だけでなくて, strikes me as extra added information in service of a related subject which started the thought. Is this sensible or am I just spinning yarns?

    The answer to アイスクリーム____、プリンも 買いまし, treats all of them interchangeably but maybe that’s just because there isn’t enough context in that sentence to make one or another better?

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