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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

ばかりでなく (bakari denaku)

~ばかりでなく — not only ~ but also ~

In short · Adds a second item to a first one: “not only ~ but also ~.” It attaches to the plain form of verbs and adjectives, to nouns directly, and to な-adjectives with な. The second half usually has も.
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Pattern

  • 名詞 + ばかりでなく、~も noun + ばかりでなく、~も: 英語ばかりでなく、中国語も
  • 普通形(な形容詞は〜な) + ばかりでなく、~も 上手なばかりでなく、~も

Adding more

The first half names something obvious or basic, and the second half adds something more. 英語ばかりでなく中国語も話せる says he speaks Chinese as well as English. The second half usually has も or まで.

Compared with だけでなく

ばかりでなく and だけでなく mean almost the same, but ばかりでなく is a little more formal and written. Both are followed by a positive addition. Negative sentences are possible too: 値段ばかりでなく質もよくない.

Examples

  • 彼(かれ)は英語(えいご)ばかりでなく、中国語(ちゅうごくご)も話(はな)せます。

    Kare wa eigo bakari de naku, chūgokugo mo hanasemasu.

    He can speak not only English but also Chinese.

  • この店(みせ)は料理(りょうり)ばかりでなく、店員(てんいん)の態度(たいど)もいい。

    Kono mise wa ryōri bakari de naku, tenin no taido mo ii.

    This restaurant has not only good food but also polite staff.

  • 彼女(かのじょ)は歌(うた)が上手(じょうず)なばかりでなく、踊(おど)りも上手(じょうず)だ。

    Kanojo wa uta ga jōzu na bakari de naku, odori mo jōzu da.

    She is not only good at singing but also good at dancing.

Common mistakes

  • な-adjectives need な: 上手なばかりでなく. Nouns attach directly.
  • Do not forget も (or まで) in the second half; the pair is what gives the “also” meaning.

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