Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 23:52 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 23:52
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
a03b
User avatar
Joined: 03 Jun 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2017
Posts: 78
Own Kudos:
15
Given Kudos: 53
Location: United States
Schools: Tuck '17
GPA: 2.7
WE:Analyst (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: Tuck '17
Posts: 78
Kudos: 15
"not only... but also" help 14 Oct 2012, 01:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello, which one is correct?

Not only did he..., but also he did...
Not only did he..., but he also did...

Thanks!

Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
GMATPill
User avatar
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
Last visit: 17 Sep 2020
Posts: 2,260
Own Kudos:
3,817
 [1]
Given Kudos: 8
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 2,260
Kudos: 3,817
 [1]
"not only... but also" help 14 Oct 2012, 15:13
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The second one:
Not only did he..., but he also did...

Not only did he do this, but he also did that.

That phrasing is preferred.

He not only went to hawaii, but he also went to cancun and aruba.

The other example is unusual and awkward since the subject of the sentence is "he" and it should be clarified as such. "Also" describes the word following it....and it should be "also did" something rather than "also he did" something. It should go right before the verb that it is describing as "also".
User avatar
Pankaj0901
User avatar
Joined: 18 Dec 2018
Last visit: 17 Dec 2022
Posts: 419
Own Kudos:
51
Given Kudos: 737
Location: India
WE:Account Management (Hospitality and Tourism)
Posts: 419
Kudos: 51
"not only... but also" help 28 Mar 2021, 00:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATPill

Are the following statements correct?
A- Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but are also easy to mix up.
B- Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but also easy to mix up.

If A is correct- is "are" between "but" and "also" incorrect as "are" is clearly repeating? Could you please elaborate this once. Thanks in advance.

GMATPill
The second one:
Not only did he..., but he also did...

Not only did he do this, but he also did that.

That phrasing is preferred.

He not only went to hawaii, but he also went to cancun and aruba.

The other example is unusual and awkward since the subject of the sentence is "he" and it should be clarified as such. "Also" describes the word following it....and it should be "also did" something rather than "also he did" something. It should go right before the verb that it is describing as "also".
Show more
User avatar
Suraj845
User avatar
Joined: 13 Jul 2018
Last visit: 15 Jan 2022
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 22
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V33
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V33
Posts: 8
Kudos: 5
"not only... but also" help 28 Mar 2021, 00:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Not only X but also Y ,where X and Y should be parallel grammatically and logically .
User avatar
Pankaj0901
User avatar
Joined: 18 Dec 2018
Last visit: 17 Dec 2022
Posts: 419
Own Kudos:
51
Given Kudos: 737
Location: India
WE:Account Management (Hospitality and Tourism)
Posts: 419
Kudos: 51
"not only... but also" help 28 Mar 2021, 00:39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Suraj845

In my above example- is this correct?
A- Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but are also easy to mix up.
If correct, could you please explain? I think "are" is redundant here, hence it should be wrong.

Suraj845
Not only X but also Y ,where X and Y should be parallel grammatically and logically .
Show more
User avatar
GmatKnightTutor
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 31 Jan 2020
Last visit: 01 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,228
Own Kudos:
1,568
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 5,228
Kudos: 1,568
"not only... but also" help 28 Mar 2021, 02:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but are also easy to mix up.

The DIFFICULT doesn't pair well with ARE.
User avatar
Suraj845
User avatar
Joined: 13 Jul 2018
Last visit: 15 Jan 2022
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 22
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V33
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V33
Posts: 8
Kudos: 5
"not only... but also" help 28 Mar 2021, 03:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Pankaj0901
Suraj845

In my above example- is this correct?
A- Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but are also easy to mix up.
If correct, could you please explain? I think "are" is redundant here, hence it should be wrong.

Suraj845
Not only X but also Y ,where X and Y should be parallel grammatically and logically .
Show more


Correct usage should be :

Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but also easy to mix up
or
Idioms not only are difficult to memorize but also are easy to mix up

Always go with Parallelism.
User avatar
Pankaj0901
User avatar
Joined: 18 Dec 2018
Last visit: 17 Dec 2022
Posts: 419
Own Kudos:
51
Given Kudos: 737
Location: India
WE:Account Management (Hospitality and Tourism)
Posts: 419
Kudos: 51
"not only... but also" help 28 Mar 2021, 03:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Suraj845 - Do check out this link from Magoosh- It says the other idiom is correct as well. Hence my question.
https://magoosh.com/gmat/complete-guide-to-gmat-idioms/

Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but are also easy to mix up.

Suraj845
Not only X but also Y ,where X and Y should be parallel grammatically and logically.

Correct usage should be :

Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but also easy to mix up
or
Idioms not only are difficult to memorize but also are easy to mix up

Always go with Parallelism.
Show more
User avatar
Suraj845
User avatar
Joined: 13 Jul 2018
Last visit: 15 Jan 2022
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 22
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V33
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V33
Posts: 8
Kudos: 5
"not only... but also" help 28 Mar 2021, 04:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Pankaj0901
Suraj845 - Do check out this link from Magoosh- It says the other idiom is correct as well. Hence my question.
https://magoosh.com/gmat/complete-guide-to-gmat-idioms/

Idioms are not only difficult to memorize but are also easy to mix up.

Show more


My Point is ,it is not placement of verb but what is taking place of X and Y .

In your example X and Y taking noun forms (difficult -X and easy - Y).I feel 'are' is kind of redundant after "but"

Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
miag
188 posts
u1983
Current Student
710 posts
MikeScarn
Current Student
275 posts