Not only .. But Also

Expert replies

Dean Jones: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 239; Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:40 amFollowed by: 2 members; Location: India; Thanked: 5 times; GMAT Score:690

by Dean Jones » Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:49 am

Dear Friends,

I was having problems in answering the following question.

By pressing a tiny amount of nitrogen between two diamonds to a pressure of 25 million pounds per square inch, scientists not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created a semiconductor similar to silicon.

(A) not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created
(B) not only were able to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
(C) were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but to create
(D) were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
(E) were not only able to transform the gas into a solid, but they were also able to create

Please help.

OA after some discussions.

Regards
Deano.

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:49 am

sk8legend408: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 62; Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:37 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 3 times

by sk8legend408 » Mon Dec 26, 2011 4:56 am

IMO E. This tests parrallelism.

A - To transform/created - eliminate
B - To transform/creating - eliminate
C - does not follow up not only with but also - eliminate
D - To transform/creating - eliminate
E - Correctly uses to transform/to create and not only...but also - E is the correct answer.

Like this post

limestone: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 307; Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:52 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 36 times; GMAT Score:640

by limestone » Mon Dec 26, 2011 5:54 pm

IMO E

A: Not only is put before the verb to be "were". This sounds weird to me.

Correct:

He is not only a teacher but also a doctor.

or

He is not only a teacher but he can also cure illnesses.

Never have I heard before:

He not only is a teacher but also a doctor.
or
I not only am a student but I also work as a teaching assistant.

Thus eliminate A

B: The same as A

C: where is the word "also"? Eliminate C as it breaks the pattern of "not only ... but also"

D: the phrase after not only must parallel with the phrase after but also. Thus, to transform must parallel with to create instead of with creating[/b.

E: able to transform perfectly parallels with able to create.

"There is nothing either good or bad - but thinking makes it so" - Shakespeare.

Like this post

shekhar.kataria: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 268; Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:10 am; Thanked: 13 times

by shekhar.kataria » Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:56 am

Correct Answer is C here and this is an exception in GMAT. Here is what Ron Says :-

'not only ... but also' in generally preferred, but gmatprep has featured at least one problem featuring 'not only ... but' in the correct answer. here it is:

By pressing a tiny amount of nitrogen between two diamonds to a pressure of 25 milliion pounds per square inch, scientists not only were able to transform the gas into a solid, but they also created a semiconductor similar to silicon

A.
B. not only were able to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
C. were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but to create
D. were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but also creating
E. were able not only to transform the gas into a solid but they were also able to create

the correct answer is c, the only choice that features proper parallelism. it omits the word 'also', but it's still correct.

My Question is Isn't E incorrect because it involves "they were" inside but also. Please prove with examples.??

Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.--Thomas A. Edison

If you find this post helpful, let me know by clicking thanks above

Like this post

limestone: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 307; Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:52 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 36 times; GMAT Score:640

by limestone » Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:18 am

Shekhar

You really through some light here.

If we add "also" into C, it will become a perfect answer. Without "also", it seems a little odd. But as you say, there's some time exception.

My cocern is the same as yours, what's is wrong with E?

"There is nothing either good or bad - but thinking makes it so" - Shakespeare.

Like this post

shekhar.kataria: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 268; Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:10 am; Thanked: 13 times

by shekhar.kataria » Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:36 am

Not only X but also Y and Not only X also Y both are idiomatic expressions.

I have got my understanding on E as well. Whenever we have 2-part comparison sentences like this, we compare what is followed by not only and but also. It should be parallel both structurally and grammatically. If you see

Not only is followed by an an infinitive ( TO TRANSFORM ) whereas
but also is followed by a clause ( they were also able to create ). this is the reason it is not parallel.

limestone wrote:Shekhar

You really through some light here.

If we add "also" into C, it will become a perfect answer. Without "also", it seems a little odd. But as you say, there's some time exception.

My cocern is the same as yours, what's is wrong with E?

Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.--Thomas A. Edison

If you find this post helpful, let me know by clicking thanks above

Like this post

Dean Jones: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 239; Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:40 amFollowed by: 2 members; Location: India; Thanked: 5 times; GMAT Score:690

by Dean Jones » Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:05 am

OA is option C

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

560 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review