Breakdown of L'horloger assemble non seulement les engrenages, mais aussi le balancier.
mais
but
aussi
also / too
non
no
seulement
only
les
them (direct object pronoun)
l'horloger
the watchmaker (m)
le balancier
the pendulum
l'engrenage
the gear (m)
assembler
to assemble
Questions & Answers about L'horloger assemble non seulement les engrenages, mais aussi le balancier.
Why is non seulement placed right after the verb assemble?
In this sentence, the structure works exactly like English! The phrase non seulement introduces the first direct object (les engrenages), so it sits right after the verb. Then mais aussi introduces the second direct object (le balancier). They act like a frame around the two specific things you are emphasizing.
Do I always have to include the article (le) after mais aussi?
Yes. In French, definite articles (le, la, les) must be repeated before almost every noun, even in a list or a paired structure like this. While in English you might say 'not only the gears but also pendulums', French requires you to explicitly state both les engrenages and le balancier.
Could I start the whole sentence with non seulement instead?
Yes, but it changes the grammar slightly! If you start the sentence with non seulement, you usually need to repeat the subject pronoun and verb in the second half to make it sound natural. For example: Non seulement l'horloger assemble les engrenages, mais il assemble aussi le balancier (Not only does the clockmaker assemble the gears, but he also assembles the pendulum).
Is balancier the only French word for a pendulum?
It depends on the context. Un balancier specifically refers to the swinging pendulum or the balance wheel that regulates a clock's mechanism, which pairs perfectly with les engrenages (the internal gears). If you are talking about a large, decorative pendulum clock itself, the clock is called une pendule.
Learn L'horloger assemble non seulement les engrenages, mais aussi le balancier and more in French
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free