[Grammar] Not only ...but also

[Jadoon 84]

As we use the structure / frame of Not only .....but also in the following manner.

Not only does he play cricket he plays football as well. (Do)
Not only did I see him I talked to him as well. (Did)

Can we use it with helping verbs Has and Had as well? i.e. as below.

Not only has he broken the door of my car he has stolen my money as well. (Has)
Not only had he broken the door of my car he had stolen my money as well. (Had)

 

[BobK]

:up: The 'not only...but also' frame isn't choosy about what verbs are involved!. But I'd find the longer sentences harder to parse (and parsing is what you do, whether you like it or not) without a comma between the two clauses. (You strictly need one in the first two sentences too, but they are short enough for the eye to flick ahead and read each sentence as a pair of coordinate clauses).

b

 

[Jadoon 84]

:up: The 'not only...but also' frame isn't choosy about what verbs are involved!. But I'd find the longer sentences harder to parse (and parsing is what you do, whether you like it or not) without a comma between the tao c;auses. (You strictly need one in the first two sentences too, but they are short enough for the eye to flick ahead and read each sentence as a pair of coordinate clauses).

b

Respected Teacher
You have posted too difficult answer to understand. You have used very high class English. Would you please explain differently? Thank you.

 

[5jj]

Would you please explain differently?

You can use virtually any verbs and tenses in these constructions.
You need a comma between the two clauses.
Sometimes we leave out the comma between two short clauses (but we shouldn't really).