〜だけでなく — JLPT N2 Grammar

Pattern

Noun + だけでなく、~ も + [verb/predicate] V-plain / Adj-plain + だけでなく、~ も + [verb/predicate] Noun + だけでなく(て) + [verb/predicate] (te-form variant)

The element after だけでなく (marked with も) is the additional item beyond the first. Both items share the same predicate.

Formality

Neutral — usable in both casual and formal contexts. だけでなく is the most versatile of the "not only ~ but also" patterns. It appears in casual conversation, essays, business writing, and journalism. This makes it the default choice when no special emphasis is needed.

Meaning

Not only ~ but also ~; ~ and also ~

〜だけでなく simply states that in addition to the item before it, the item after it (marked with も) is also true or included. There is no inherent escalation, surprise, or "naturalness" nuance — it is a clean, neutral additive.

Explanation

だけでなく is composed of だけ (limit particle: "only; just") + でなく (negative of で, "not being"). The literal meaning is "not being limited to just X" — i.e., other things are also true. This transparent construction is why だけでなく is the most natural and unmarked "not only ~ but also" pattern.

The neutrality of だけでなく is its most important characteristic. Unlike ばかりか (which escalates) or はもとより (which implies A is obvious), だけでなく simply extends the scope of a statement from A to B without any evaluative coloring. This makes it the safest and most broadly applicable of the additive patterns.

Grammatically, だけでなく is followed by も (also) in the second clause. The second item can be at the same level as the first, more extreme, or less extreme — the pattern does not impose a directionality. だけでなく can connect nouns, verb-plain forms, and adjective-plain forms, making it structurally flexible.

The て-form variant だけでなくて is slightly more conversational and is heard frequently in everyday speech. In formal writing, だけでなく is preferred.

Example Sentences

1. 彼は英語だけでなく、フランス語も話せる。 Kare wa eigo dake de naku, furansugo mo hanaseru. He can speak not only English but also French.

2. この薬は痛みを抑えるだけでなく、炎症も和らげる。 Kono kusuri wa itami wo osaeru dake de naku, enshou mo yawarageru. This medicine not only suppresses pain but also reduces inflammation.

3. 環境問題は日本だけでなく、世界全体の課題だ。 Kankyou-mondai wa Nihon dake de naku, sekai zentai no kadai da. Environmental issues are a challenge not only for Japan but for the entire world.

4. スマートフォンは便利なだけでなく、私たちの生活を大きく変えた。 Sumaatofon wa benri na dake de naku, watashitachi no seikatsu wo ookiku kaeta. Smartphones are not only convenient — they have greatly changed our lives.

5. 彼女は才能があるだけでなく、努力家でもある。 Kanojo wa sainou ga aru dake de naku, doryokuka de mo aru. She is not only talented but also a hard worker.

6. この研究は理論的な貢献だけでなく、実用的な応用も期待される。 Kono kenkyuu wa riron-teki na kouken dake de naku, jitsuyou-teki na ouyou mo kitai sareru. This research is expected to make not only theoretical contributions but also practical applications.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting も in the second clause. The second element after だけでなく typically requires も (also) to signal the addition. Without も, the sentence can sound grammatically incomplete or ambiguous.

• Incomplete: 英語だけでなく、フランス語話せる。
• Complete: 英語だけでなく、フランス語も話せる。

Mistake 2: Choosing だけでなく when escalation or special nuance is needed. だけでなく is neutral. When the second item is more extreme or unexpected, ばかりか creates a stronger rhetorical effect. When the first item is "obviously true," はもとより is more appropriate. Using だけでなく in those contexts is not wrong, but it misses the opportunity for more precise expression.

Compare With

Exam tip: On the N2 grammar section, discriminating between だけでなく, ばかりか, and はもとより is a common question type. Remember: if the context calls for "A is naturally expected, B is the real point" → はもとより. If B is more extreme or surprising → ばかりか. If it's a neutral addition → だけでなく.