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### Not Only... But Also

When you want to emphasize multiple positive (or negative) aspects of a situation, you can use the correlative conjunctions **niet alleen ... maar (ook)** (not only ... but also).

Because **maar** is a coordinating conjunction, it connects two independent main clauses without changing the word order. In a standard sentence, **niet alleen** is placed after the verb in the first clause, and **ook** sits inside the second clause.

{{item:802709}}

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Notice that the structure of the second clause is always **maar** + subject + verb, with **ook** placed later in the sentence.

### Starting with "Niet alleen"

For extra emphasis, you can place **niet alleen** at the very beginning of the sentence. Moving this phrase to the front triggers inversion in the first clause (the verb comes before the subject).

{{item:802723}}

Even when you invert the first clause, the second clause following **maar** keeps its standard main clause word order.

### Describing Musical Performances

This structure is perfect for reviewing a concert, describing an orchestra, or praising classical musicians.

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Correlative conjunctions (niet alleen ... maar ook)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

determiner/pronoun

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular pronouns and 'to be' (ik ben, hij is)

The formal 'you' (u bent)

Definite articles (de, het)

Plural pronouns and 'to be' (wij zijn)

The verb 'to have' (hebben)

Basic word order

Numbers 1 to 10 (een, twee, drie)

Verb stems and the 'I' form (ik werk)

Long vowels in verb stems (maken, ik maak)

Short vowels in verb stems (zitten, ik zit)

Present tense singular (-t)

Present tense plural (-en)

Yes/no questions

Question words (wie, wat, waar)

Noun negation (geen)

Plural nouns (-en)

Plural nouns (-s)

Diminutives (-je)

Adjective modifiers (heel, erg, te)

Verb negation (niet)

Singular possessives (mijn, jouw, zijn, haar)

Plural and formal possessives (ons/onze, jullie, hun, uw)

This and these (deze, dit)

That and those (die, dat)

Asking which (welke, welk)

Numbers 11 to 20 (elf, twaalf, dertien...)

Tens and compound numbers (dertig, veertig...)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (eerste, tweede...)

Telling time: hours and half hours (uur, half)

Telling time: quarters (kwart over, kwart voor)

Question words (hoeveel, waarom)

Irregular verbs (doen, gaan, staan, zien, komen)

Adjective endings (+e)

Adjectives with 'het' words

Prepositions of place (uit, bij)

Subject-verb inversion

Time before place

Modal verbs (willen, kunnen)

Modal verbs (moeten, mogen)

The verb bracket

Separable prefix verbs

The imperative mood (kom, luister)

Singular object pronouns (mij, jou, hem, haar)

Plural and formal object pronouns (ons, jullie, hen, u)

Reflexive verbs and pronouns (zich, me, je)

Position of negation (niet)

The present perfect tense with regular verbs (hebben gewerkt)

The present perfect tense with motion verbs (zijn gegaan)

Irregular past participles (gezien, gedaan)

The present continuous (zijn aan het)

There is / there are (er is, er zijn)

Unstressed there (er)

And, but, or (en, maar, of)

Because (want)

Months of the year

Prepositions of time (om, van ... tot)

Greetings and politeness

Conversational glue

Prepositions with days (op)

Prepositions with seasons (in)

Genitive of time ('s morgens, 's nachts)

Adverbs of frequency (altijd, vaak)

The future tense (gaan)

The future tense (zullen)

Separable verbs with auxiliary verbs

Apostrophe plurals ('-s)

Irregular plurals (-eren)

Complex diminutives (-pje, -etje, -kje)

Possessive 's (Jan's, vaders)

Indefinite pronouns (iets, niemand, alles)

Indefinite subject pronoun (je)

Reciprocal pronoun (elkaar)

Comparative adjectives (-er dan)

Comparatives with spelling change (-der)

Superlative adjectives (-st)

Irregular comparisons (beter, meer, minder)

Expressing preference (graag, liever, het liefst)

Equality comparisons (even ... als)

Fixed prepositions

That clauses (dat)

Because clauses (omdat)

If and when clauses (als)

Inversion after clauses

Separable verbs in clauses

Negation in clauses (niet)

Past tense of to be (was / waren)

Past tense of to have (had / hadden)

Question	Answer
the orchestra	het orkest
The orchestra not only plays well, but the music is also beautiful.	Het orkest speelt niet alleen goed, maar de muziek is ook mooi.
the conductor (music)	de dirigent
talented	talentvol
The conductor is not only strict, but he is also very talented.	De dirigent is niet alleen streng, maar hij is ook erg talentvol.
the violin	de viool
He not only plays the violin, but he also sings well.	Hij speelt niet alleen viool, maar hij zingt ook goed.
the sound / the tone (musical, quality)	de klank
impressive	indrukwekkend
The sound is not only clear, but the song is also impressive.	De klank is niet alleen helder, maar het lied is ook indrukwekkend.
the rhythm	het ritme
to move (emotionally)	ontroeren
The rhythm is not only fast, but the song also moves me.	Het ritme is niet alleen snel, maar het lied ontroert me ook.
The audience listens while the orchestra and the conductor play.	Het publiek luistert terwijl het orkest en de dirigent spelen.
classical	klassiek
Not only are these musicians talented, but they also play classical music.	Niet alleen zijn deze muzikanten talentvol, maar ze spelen ook klassieke muziek.
The sound of the violin is as beautiful as a song.	De klank van de viool is even mooi als een lied.
The singer not only has a beautiful voice, but the song is also impressive.	De zanger heeft niet alleen een mooie stem, maar het lied is ook indrukwekkend.
We not only practice the rhythm, but we also listen to classical music.	We oefenen niet alleen het ritme, maar we luisteren ook naar klassieke muziek.
the instrument	het instrument
The music not only moves the audience, but the instrument also sounds beautiful.	De muziek ontroert niet alleen het publiek, maar het instrument klinkt ook prachtig.
The orchestra not only has a new instrument, but the sound is also impressive.	Het orkest heeft niet alleen een nieuw instrument, maar de klank is ook indrukwekkend.