Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 11/24

ではなくてNot A but B, Conjunctive

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

Structure

Verb + の + ではなく（て）(1)
［い］Adjective + の + ではなく（て）(1)
［な］Adjective + ではなく（て）(1)
Noun + ではなく（て）(1)

(1) じゃなく（て）

Details

  • Register

    Standard

About ではなくて・じゃなくて

When the auxiliary verb だ is seen in its negative conjugated form, it states that (A) is not correct, but (B) is. This form is ではなく, and may appear either with or without the conjunction particle て attached to the end.

ではなくて is commonly seen grouped with nouns, or other words that have been nominalized through the use of の or こと.

In ではなくて, the adverbial particle は is not strictly required. However, as this expression is comparing what (A) is 'not' to what (B) 'is', the contrast that は provides means that the phrase will sound far more natural with its inclusion.

Caution

て sometimes performs in a similar way to a 'comma' in Japanese, allowing structures to appear together that usually wouldn't. Due to this, if て is omitted from ではなくて, ではなく may not be linked directly to the next word, and a comma will be required. Regarding adjectives, this く form is known as the conjunctive form, and may only be linked directly with other 用言(ようげん) (conjugatable words), altering or adding to their overall meaning.

Related

Examples

--:--

    彼(かれ)は兄弟(きょうだい)ではなくて従兄弟(いとこ)です。

    He is not my sibling, but my cousin.

    魚(さかな)じゃなくて肉(にく)が食(た)べたい。

    I want to eat meat, not fish.

    科学(かがく)ではなくて化学(かがく)です。

    Not science, but chemistry.

    火曜日(かようび)ではなくて水曜日(すいようび)です。

    It's not Tuesday, but Wednesday.

    あの選手(せんしゅ)は天才(てんさい)ではなくて、努力家(どりょくか)だ。

    That player is not a genius, but a hard worker.

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        • A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

          Page 279 (Casual なくて)

        • A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar

          Page 211 (Formal なく)

        • Tobira

          Page 48

        • みんなの日本語 II

          Page 90 [CH 39]

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      ではなくて・じゃなくて – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

      • zyoeru

        zyoeru

        I believe this grammar point is incorrectly linked to DBJG, p. 279. The grammar point covered there is 「〜なくて」 on its own which means “do not do ~ and ~” or 'is not ~ and ~".

        The correct grammar point that should be linked is DIJG, p. 211. This grammar point is 「〜なく」 which means “not ~ and” or “not ~ but”.

      • Daru

        Daru

        Double checked both resources.

        DBJG’s p.279 focuses on the ‘not x, so…’ while DIJB’s p.211 focuses on the Grammar Point that Bunpro talks about.

        What I want to highlight here though is that both share the same basic meaning: ‘Not X, so…’. There’s also the fact that they mean the same thing, its just the Register that changes.

        To better reflect that and add in your suggestion, I’ve updated the resources. Thank you!

      • Dimpuni

        Dimpuni

        Is there any difference between this and the ~なくて form of verbs and i-adjectives?

        Referencing one of the examples:

        事故を起こしたら逃げるのではなくて、警察に電話をしてください

        事故を起こしたら逃げなくて、警察に電話をしてください

        Is there any difference between the two?

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