If I use a phrase "not only….but also", Which one is correct?
1a. I don't only study a lot but also play a lot.
2a. I not only study a lot but also play a lot.
3a. Not only I study a lot but also play a lot.
And are there other saying ways?
In addition, I don't know how to make the negative of this sentence. Can these sentence be negative, like:
1b. I not only don't study a lot but also don't play a lot.
2b. Not only I don't study a lot but also don't play a lot.
Best Answer
Personal opinion: I don't like Sentence 1a; it seems to read awkwardly. Something about the don't only throws me. Here's how I'd rewrite it:
Sentence 2a is okay, but I might be tempted to repeat the subject (this is not a required change, but some might feel it helps the readability):
Because it starts with not only, Sentence 3a needs the verb do. I would also add a comma and repeat the subject:
As far as the negations go, I think Sentence 1b is better than Sentence 1a, but I'd still reword it like this:
You don't really need the "but" in that sentence. The "not only" alerts the reader that a contrast is coming.
Some of these changes are more about improving the sentence as opposed to correcting grammatical errors. In other words, not only do they improve readability, they also improve the sentence's natural flow.