To describe impressive, multidisciplinary talents, you will often want to emphasize that someone or something possesses more than one exceptional quality. In Finnish, you can link these parallel ideas using the correlative conjunction ei ainoastaan... vaan myös (not only... but also).
The Core Components
Let's first look at the key vocabulary word that makes up the first half of this structure:
This grammar pattern combines the negative verb (ei) with ainoastaan, followed by vaan (the strong "but" used to counter a negative statement) and myös (also). Just like in English, it is used to connect two parallel words, phrases, or clauses.
Linking Traits and Nouns
When connecting two nouns or adjectives, the structure frames them perfectly. Remember that the negative verb ei must agree with the subject, though when talking about a third-person singular person or thing, it remains ei.
Linking Actions
You can also use this structure to connect two parallel verbs, highlighting that a virtuoso or multitalent performs multiple impressive actions.
Separating "vaan" and "myös"
While vaan and myös frequently sit right next to each other, they do not have to. If the second half of your sentence restates the subject pronoun or uses a different main verb for clarity, myös typically shifts to follow that pronoun or verb.