no solo... sino...vsno solo... sino también...
/noh SOH-loh... SEE-noh/
/noh SOH-loh... SEE-noh tahm-BYEN/
💡 Quick Rule
Use this structure to add a second, often more surprising or important, piece of information.
Think: 'Not only THIS, but (wait for it...) THAT too!'
- If the second part has its own conjugated verb (a new action), you must use 'sino que'. For example: 'No solo canta, sino que baila'.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | no solo... sino... | no solo... sino también... | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Addition | Hablo no solo español, sino francés. | Hablo no solo español, sino también francés. | Both are correct. 'Sino también' is more common in everyday conversation and adds a bit more emphasis. |
| Describing Something | El restaurante es no solo caro, sino malo. | El restaurante es no solo caro, sino también malo. | Both work. Using 'también' reinforces that the second quality is an additional, important fact. |
| When a Verb Follows | No solo estudia, sino que trabaja. | No solo estudia, sino que también trabaja. | Crucially, when a new conjugated verb follows, you must use 'sino que'. The 'también' is still optional for emphasis. |
✅ When to Use "no solo... sino..." / no solo... sino también...
no solo... sino...
'Not only... but...' A structure used to connect two related ideas, where the second one adds to or elevates the first.
/noh SOH-loh... SEE-noh/
Connecting two nouns
Necesito no solo tu ayuda, sino tu consejo.
I need not only your help, but your advice.
Connecting two adjectives
El viaje fue no solo largo, sino agotador.
The trip was not only long, but exhausting.
Connecting two infinitives (unconjugated verbs)
Debemos no solo estudiar el problema, sino proponer soluciones.
We must not only study the problem, but propose solutions.
no solo... sino también...
'Not only... but also...' The more common and slightly more emphatic version of the structure. 'También' adds weight to the second item.
/noh SOH-loh... SEE-noh tahm-BYEN/
Connecting two nouns
Compró no solo flores, sino también chocolates.
He bought not only flowers, but also chocolates.
Connecting two adjectives
Ella es no solo inteligente, sino también muy creativa.
She is not only intelligent, but also very creative.
Connecting two adverbs
Conduce no solo rápido, sino también con mucho cuidado.
He drives not only fast, but also very carefully.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "no solo... sino...":
La casa es no solo grande, sino luminosa.
The house is not only big, but bright.
With "no solo... sino también...":
La casa es no solo grande, sino también luminosa.
The house is not only big, but also bright.
The Difference: These are practically interchangeable. 'Sino también' is slightly more common and feels a bit more complete to most speakers. You can't go wrong with it.
With "no solo... sino...":
Él no solo lee libros, sino que escribe poemas.
He not only reads books, but he writes poems.
With "no solo... sino también...":
Él no solo lee libros, sino que también escribe poemas.
He not only reads books, but he also writes poems.
The Difference: This is the most important distinction. When the second part has a new verb, you MUST use 'sino que'. The 'también' is optional but very common for emphasis.
🎨 Visual Comparison
A two-panel cartoon showing 'not only' vs 'but also'. The first panel has one item, the second has the first item plus another, better item.
'No solo... sino también...' is like saying 'Not only this, but you get this awesome thing too!'
⚠️ Common Mistakes
No solo es inteligente, pero también es amable.
No solo es inteligente, sino que también es amable.
You cannot use 'pero' in this structure. The correct conjunction is 'sino' or 'sino que'.
No solo cocinamos, sino jugamos a las cartas.
No solo cocinamos, sino que también jugamos a las cartas.
When you introduce a second, different conjugated verb (cocinamos -> jugamos), you must use 'sino que'.
Me gusta no solo el café, también el té.
Me gusta no solo el café, sino también el té.
You need the 'sino' to connect the two parts of the phrase; 'también' alone isn't enough.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: No solo... sino... vs. No solo... sino también...
Question 1 of 2
Choose the correct way to complete the sentence: 'No solo canta, ___ baila muy bien.'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just say 'no solo... y también...'?
No, that's a common mistake for English speakers. The correct Spanish structure requires 'sino' or 'sino que' to connect the two ideas. Think of 'no solo' and 'sino' as a fixed pair.
Is it always 'sino que' when there's a verb?
It's 'sino que' when there's a new CONJUGATED verb (an action verb that changes for who is doing it). If you are connecting two infinitives (the 'to do' form of a verb), you just use 'sino'. For example: 'Quiero no solo viajar, sino vivir en España.'
Can I leave out 'también'?
Yes, you can. 'No solo... sino...' is grammatically perfect. However, in modern spoken Spanish, adding 'también' is extremely common and often sounds more natural.