Question 1

Why use verlange instead of fordere here?

Accepted Answer

Both verbs mean "to demand," but verlangen is typically used for personal, direct, and interpersonal demands (like demanding respect, an apology, or silence). Fordern is generally more formal, public, or political (like a labor union demanding higher wages). For a personal confrontation like this, verlangen is the natural choice.

Question 2

How does the nicht nur ... sondern auch structure work in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

This is a fixed two-part conjunction meaning "not only... but also." The first part, nicht nur, introduces the first element (Ruhe), and sondern auch introduces the addition (Respekt). Because it connects two nouns directly as objects of the verb, it doesn't require a new clause or change the overall word order.

Question 3

Why is the word for "but" here sondern and not aber?

Accepted Answer

In German, you must use sondern instead of aber whenever you are offering a direct contradiction, correction, or mutually exclusive alternative to a previous negative statement. The fixed pairing nicht nur ... sondern auch relies on this exact logic: the first part contains a negative (nicht), and the second part provides the contrasting addition.

Question 4

Since the current lesson focuses on gefälligst, could I add it to this sentence to sound even angrier?

Accepted Answer

It would actually sound very strange here! The particle gefälligst (roughly meaning "damn well" or an aggressive "kindly") is almost exclusively used with commands or forceful expectations directed at someone else, such as Sei gefälligst ruhig! (Damn well be quiet!). Because the subject of this sentence is Ich (I) stating an action, adding gefälligst doesn't fit logically.

Ich verlange nicht nur Ruhe, sondern auch Respekt!

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