Setting the Record Straight
To correct a false assumption, use the structure não... mas sim ("not [this], but rather [that]"). It is the perfect tool for debunking myths and replacing them with facts.
| The dinosaur was not a monster, but rather a normal animal. | O dinossauro não era um monstro, mas sim um animal normal. |
| That is not just a myth, but rather the truth. | Isso não é apenas um mito, mas sim a verdade. |
| This dinosaur is not a carnivore, but rather a herbivore. | Este dinossauro não é um carnívoro, mas sim um herbívoro. |
Matching Prepositions and Actions
For the sentence to sound natural, the two things you contrast should balance. If the first half of the statement relies on a preposition (like a or de), you will typically repeat that preposition after mas sim.
| That skeleton doesn't belong to a reptile, but rather to a bird. | Aquele esqueleto não pertence a um réptil, mas sim a uma ave. |
| The fossil is not of a lizard, but rather of the dinosaur. | O fóssil não é de um lagarto, mas sim do dinossauro. |
You can also use this exact structure to contrast actions instead of just nouns or adjectives.
| They didn't become extinct, but rather managed to evolve. | Eles não ficaram extintos, mas sim conseguiram evoluir. |
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