Not only / but also | Grammar exercise

Combine the following sentences using not only…but also….

If you would like to learn the correct use of not only… but also before doing this exercise, go to this study page.

Exercise 1

1. There are problems with the children. There are problems with their parents.

2. He can make people laugh. He can make people cry.

3. She writes plays for television. She acts in movies.

4. I sent him many letters. I also tried to telephone him.

5. We visit our grandfather’s house in summer. We visit our grandfather’s house in winter.

6. She can dance. She can sing.

7. They need food. They need medicine.

8. He has been late four times. He hasn’t done any work.

9. She was upset. She was angry.

10. In winter the days are short. They are also cold and dark.

Answers

1. There are problems not only with the children but also with their parents.

2. He can not only make people laugh, but also make them cry. / Not only can he make people laugh; but he can also make them cry.

3. She not only writes plays for television but also acts in movies.

4. I not only sent him many letters but also tried to telephone him.

5. We visit our grandfather’s house not only in summer but also in winter.

6. She can not only dance but also sing.

7. They need not only food but also medicine.

8. Not only has she been late four times; but she has also not done any work.

9. She was not only upset but also angry.

10. In winter the days are not only short but also cold and dark.

Exercise 2

Combine the following sentences using not only / but also.

1. Trees give us fruits. They give us firewood.

2. She is a writer. She is an actor.

3. They need food and water. They need shelter too.

4. The moon gives us light at night. The stars also give us light at night.

5. He invented the device. He patented it.

6. Tagore was a great poet. He was also a great novelist and artist.

7. Swati Thirunal was a great ruler. He was also a brilliant musician.

8. She has to look after the children. She has to perform all domestic chores.

9. Mosquitoes are a great nuisance. They are also carriers of diseases.

10. She is proud. She is vain.

11. He was fined. He was imprisoned.

12. She passed the exam. She secured the first rank.

13. Cows give us milk. Goats give us milk.

14. He is rich. He is famous.

15. They robbed him. They beat him up.

16. Coal is found in India. Coal is found in England.

Answers

1. Trees give us not only fruits but also firewood.

2. She is not only a writer but also an actor.

3. They need not only food and water but also shelter.

4. Not only the moon but the stars also give us light at night.

5. He not only invented the device but also patented it.

6. Tagore was not only a great poet but also a great novelist and artist.

7. Swati Thirunal was not only a great ruler but also a brilliant musician.

8. She has to not only look after the children but also perform all domestic chores.

9. Mosquitoes are not only a great nuisance but also carriers of diseases.

10. She is not only proud but also vain.

11. He was not only fined but also imprisoned.

12. She not only passed the exam but also secured the first rank.

13. Not only cows but goats also give us milk.

14. He is not only rich but also famous.

15. They not only robbed him but also beat him up.

16. Coal is found not only in India but also in England.

Exercise 3

Study the examples given below.

• He is a composer. He is a singer.

We can combine these two sentences using not only / but also.

• He is not only a composer but also a singer.

When you connect two clauses with not only / but also, you have to make sure that the same kind of words go after not only and but also. That means if you used a verb after not only, you have to use another verb after but also.

1. He planted the rose. He took good care of it.

2. Trees give us fruit. They also give shade and firewood.

3. The moon give us light at night. The stars also give us light at night.

4. Tagore was a great poet. He was also a great painter.

5. Swati Thirunal was a great ruler. He was an accomplished composer.

6. Mosquitoes are a nuisance. They are also carriers of diseases.

7. Nehru was a great orator. He was also a great statesman.

8. She is intelligent. She is beautiful.

9. She passed the exam. She secured the first rank.

10. Lions are found in India. They are also found in Africa.

Answers

1. He not only planted the rose but also took good care of it.

2. Trees give us not only fruit but also shade and firewood.

3. Not only the moon but also the stars give us light at night.

4. Tagore was not only a great poet but also a great painter.

5. Swati Thirunal was not only a great ruler but also an accomplished composer.

6. Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance but also carriers of diseases.

7. Nehru was not only a great orator but also a great statesman.

8. She is not only intelligent but also beautiful.

9. She not only passed the exam but also secured the first rank.

10. Lions are found not only in India but also in Africa.