■ not only... but...

1) 如果两个分句中的所有各个成分都不同，not only 要放在前一句的最前面，这一句的主语和谓语动词要用倒装词序，but 后面一句则保持正常词序。

• Not only was any new item incredibly costly to launch, but most new products failed, often taking their supporters down to obscurity with them.不但推出任何新产品都要花费难以置信的费用，而且大多数新产品都会失败，常常使得支持者随同这些产品落得个默默无名。
• If you want to play God, I always tell my students, go be a prosecutor. Not a judge, mind you. Not only do you have to be older and more experienced to be a judge, but everything you do must be explained and is subject to review. (The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, New York, Sept. 2, 2006, A9)我总是告诉我的学生们，你们如果想扮演上帝的角色，你们就去当检察官吧。别当法官，要记住。要当法官，不但年纪要大些，阅历要丰富些，而且，事情无论怎样办理，都得说明理由，还要经得起审核。
• Not only did Mr Snow take pains to point out that he had chosen his words carefully, but it seems unlikely that an intelligent man would make gaffe after gaffe on the same subject. (The Economist, May 24, 2003, p.31)斯诺先生本来已经不厌其烦地指出他是字斟句酌的，不但如此，一个聪明人，看来更是不大会在同一个题目上反复出洋相的。

2) 主语和谓语动词在前后的句子中都相同，只有宾语或表语不同，此时两个句子可以合成一句，将 not only 和 but/but also 分别放在两个宾语或表语前面即可（中文习惯却要再次重复谓语动词）。

• She lost not only her money, but also her passport.她不但丢了钱，还丢了护照。
• She was not only beautiful, but also intelligent.她不但美丽，而且聪明。
• Sometimes it is not only wise to listen to your parents but also interesting.有时候，听你的父母说话，不但是明智，而且很有趣。

但是，也可以仍然保持两句，同一主语出现两次，甚至由于结构上合并困难而不但重复主语而且重复谓语动词（not only 放在第一句的句首，第一句主谓倒装，第二句不倒装）。

• Not only did she not know that adherents of the Russian Orthodox Church are Christians, she also knew absolutely nothing about the New Testament.她不但不知道俄国东正教的信徒也是基督徒，而且她对新约圣经也一无所知。

3) 主语相同，但谓语及其他成分不同，此时两个句子也合成一句，将 not only 和 but/but also 分别放在两个谓语动词前面即可。

• Chimps not only use tools but make them.黑猩猩不但使用工具，而且还制造工具。

但是，也可以保持同样的主语和谓语动词分别两次出现在前后两句（not only 放在第一句的句首，第一句主谓倒装）。

• Not only did she lose her money, she also lost her passport.她不但丢了钱，而且护照也丢了。
• Not only do chimps use tools, they also make them.黑猩猩不但使用工具，而且还制造工具。
• Students who do well not only study hard but also use their instincts if they do not know the answer.功课好的学生不但学习勤奋，而且如果不知道答案时就运用自己的本能。

也可以第一分句用 not only 开始，主谓倒装，第二分句用 but 开始，不倒装，而由于前后内容没有相同之处，所以一般不用 also。

• Not only are they(Earth and Venus) comparable in size and mass, but they have similar amounts of carbon dioxide and once probably possessed nearly equal amounts of life-giving water.(The Los Angeles Times, Dec. 1, 2007)地球和金星不但大小和质量相仿，而且都具有数量差不多的二氧化碳，而且很可能曾经有过数量相同的赋予生命的水。

要注意，but also 不可以两个单词一起放在第二分句的句首，先于该句的主语。如果 but 和 also 都出现，两个要分开，but 在主语之前，also 在主语和谓语动词之间。

• Not only do we want to go, but we also have enough money.我们不但想去，而且还有足够的钱。

4) 有的学者认为，后一句如果有 also，意义的重点就在后一句。如果只有 but 而没有 also，意义的重点就仍然在前一句。

• She is not only smart but brilliant.她既潇洒又聪慧。
• He not only wanted the letter but wanted it desperately.他对这封信，不但是想得到，而且想疯了。

但是从例句看，这个意见不见得普遍正确。