not only but also

[mengta]

They provide him with not only food but also protection.
They not only provide him with food but also protection.
They provide him not only with food but also protection.

which one is correct?or neither of them is correct? and what's the correct way ?

thanks

[Temico]

The first one is incorrect.
To correct it:-
"They provide him with food and also protection."

[blacknomi]

Hi, mengta!

1- not only NOUN but also NOUN
2- not only VERB but also VERB
3- not only Prepositional Phrase but also Prepositional Phrase

They provide him with not only food but also protection.
They not only provide him with food but also protection. (imbalance)
They provide him not only with food but also with protection.

As Temico pointed out, 'They provide them food and protection' is fine too. There's a subtle difference between 'A and B' structure and 'not only A but also B' structure.

They provide him food and protection. (Food receives an equal stress as protection does.)
They provide him with not only food but also protection. (Protection is the information focus which receives more stress.)