Not Only - But Also

[sparklingdark]

"Not only my father but also my mother does not drink coffee."

Perhaps this is an example of the perfect rule, which my textbook points out.

However, when I checked this unit out before I taught it I thought that was one of the weirdest constructions I'd seen.

It also gives me this:

"Neither my father nor my mother does drink coffee."

wth????

I have more.....

[J&K Tutoring]

"Not only my father but also my mother does not drink coffee."

Makes me cringe. Not necessarily wrong, just awkward, as you pointed out. Almost a double negative- like the old song, "Yes, we have no bananas".

What you would typically hear in the US would be, "My father and mother don't drink coffee."

[Hedwig]

Oftentimes, simple is better.

[Rover_KE]

"Neither my father nor my mother does drink coffee."

That would be OK as "Neither my father nor my mother drinks coffee".

Rover

[Raymott]

However, when I checked this unit out before I taught it I thought that was one of the weirdest constructions I'd seen.


I have more.....

So, what are you saying? You chose a substandard textbook to work from?

[Rover_KE]

wth????

. . .and what the heck is that supposed to mean?

Rover

[emsr2d2]

. . .and what the heck is that supposed to mean?

Rover

I believe that is textspeak for "What the hell?", along the same lines as "WTF?!" which I'm sure you can guess.