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Not only...but also

General English Grammar & Vocabulary,... » ESL General English Grammar Questions

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Latest post Sun, Aug 3 2008 2:25 PM by Teo. 6 replies.
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Anonymous  +  488390 Thu, 13 Mar 08 10:48 AM

Hi,

Which is correct?

a. Not only is smoking dangerous to a smoker, but it can also harm the people around him.

or

b.Not only is smoking dangerous to a smoker, but it also can harm the people around him.

 
Anonymous
Mister Micawber  +  488394 Thu, 13 Mar 08 10:57 AM
.
This is probably best:

Not only is smoking dangerous to a smoker, but also it can harm the people around him.
Mister Micawber
Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004
Yokohama
Veteran Member 30,507
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'
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Marius Hancu  +  488396 Thu, 13 Mar 08 11:03 AM

Re MM's version, I think that it can be dispensed with, for: 

Not only is smoking dangerous to a smoker, but also can harm the people around him.

At the BBC:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site%3Abbc.co.uk+%22but+also+can+*%22+&btnG=Search
Marius Hancu
Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006
Veteran Member 11,673
Teo  +  550244 Sun, 03 Aug 08 11:44 AM

Anonymous
“Which is correct? a. Not only is smoking dangerous to a smoker, but it can also harm the people around him. or b.Not only is smoking dangerous to a smoker, but it also can harm the people around him.”

Either! The following is also acceptable. Not only is smoking dangerous to a smoker, it can also harm the people around him.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=98218&dict=CALD
Not only did he turn up late, he also forgot his books.
Teo
Joined on Tue, Sep 28 2004
Taiwan
Contributing Member 1,631
Thank you very much for your reply.
New2grammar  +  550249 Sun, 03 Aug 08 12:04 PM
As far as I know, these constructiosn are possible:

not only...but also
not only...but
not only ... also

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
New2grammar
Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006
Veteran Member 7,676
Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?
Mister Micawber  +  550265 Sun, 03 Aug 08 01:07 PM
.
I vote for not only...but also only.
Mister Micawber
Teo  +  550285 Sun, 03 Aug 08 02:25 PM
not only ... but (also) ... both ... and ...: If this project fails it will affect not only our department, but (also) the whole organization.
--
not only ... (but) also ... used to emphasize that sth else is also true: Not only did she write the text, (but) she also selected the illustrations.
Teo
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