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Liveinjapan Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Not only about... but..

Speaking English is not only about using proper grammar but about understanding the culture in which it is spoken.

Is my sentence correct?
Thanks.
  

Top answer

Greetings, LiveinJapan, the following rephrasing is possible Speaking English is a matter of not only using proper grammar, but also understanding the culture in which it is spoken. (correlative conjunction not only... but also should be in place) or Speaking English combines (using) proper grammar with understanding the culture in which it is spoken.

— Andriy Lapin

  • Greetings, LiveinJapan, the following rephrasing is possible Speaking English is a matter of not only using proper grammar, but also understanding the culture in which it is spoken.
  • (correlative conjunction not only...
  • but also should be in place) or Speaking English combines (using) proper grammar with understanding the culture in which it is spoken.
  • Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff
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10 Answers
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Greetings, LiveinJapan,

the following rephrasing is possible

Speaking English is a matter of not only using proper grammar, but also understanding the culture in which it is spoken. (correlative conjunction not only... but also should be in place)

or

Speaking English com
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Thanks for alternatives, Gleb_Chebrikoff,
and I missed 'also'

Does my sentence sound unnatural to you?

Here's the http://esl.about.com/b/2009/11/12/cultural-awareness.htm, from which I took two sentences and wanted to combine them.
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LiveinJapan,

it is immaculate grammatically, but, personally, I find the repetition of about inadvisable, so the thought can be formulated more neatly without it. Moreover, you can reinforce the original idea by adding an adverb also. In any event, if you find that your variant perfectly suits your needs and the context of your text, you can use it with confidence.
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Gleb_ChebrikoffI find the repetition of about inadvisable
Thanks again.
I understand what you are saying. However, in an example of your sentence, placing 'not only' after 'a matter of' may lead to the construction of 'a matter of A and B', and thus I prefer to place 'not only' before 'about' (in your sentence, before 'a matter of' -- not only a matter of
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The point is that not only... but (also), unlike and, is not limited to additive function; it distinguishes rather than equates the coordinated elements, so the interpretation 'a matter of X and Y' is dismissed at once, don't worry about that.

Grammatical tradition holds that correlative coordinators should introduce elements of equivalent function and status
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Gleb_Chebrikoffthe elements are not equal
Understand but one thing:
"not only a matter of A but (also a matter) of B" introduces the equivalence of elements which, as you can see, are "a matter of A" and "a matter of B", the latter of course omitted, not 'ing form' itself.

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It makes me contented to realise that you have made sense of the striking difference between not... but vs and, so this 'one thing' you are referring to is the last on the agenda, and may I be clear about two points.

First, the omission of a matter of Y in this position is known as initial ellipsis and, given that to this process several restrictions apply (
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LiveinjapanSpeaking English is not only about using proper grammar but ALSO about understanding the culture in which it is spoken.


Maybe it's a matter of taste, but barring the missing "also", I find your phrase acceptable.
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I get your point, and many thanks, Gleb.
Thanks, MrPernickety.
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I am really pleased to have helped, LiveinJapan. Feel free to ask again should you have any questions - and thanks for this one.

Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff
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