Not only: -ㄹ/을 뿐만 아니라

At its core, -ㄹ/을 뿐만 아니라 is a connective ending. It glues two clauses together. The first clause introduces a fact, and the second clause adds another one. Usually, these two facts share the same "vibe." If the first thing is positive, the second thing should be positive too. If you start with something negative, keep it negative. Mixing them can feel a bit like wearing a tuxedo with flip-flops—possible, but very confusing for everyone involved! A very important thing to remember is the word 도 (also/too). You will almost always see 도 in the second clause. It acts like the anchor that completes the "also" part of the sentence. Without it, the sentence can feel a bit naked. Native speakers use this pattern in both writing and speaking, though it feels a bit more structured than just using -고 (and). It’s perfect for when you want to sound like you’ve really thought out what you’re saying.

1. 1Getting the conjugation right is like following a simple recipe. You just need to look at the verb or adjective stem.
2. 2Action/Descriptive Verbs (Present Tense):
3. 3If the stem ends in a vowel (no batchim), add -ㄹ 뿐만 아니라. For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 갈 뿐만 아니라.
4. 4If the stem ends in a consonant (batchim), add -을 뿐만 아니라. For example, 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹을 뿐만 아니라.
5. 5If the stem ends in ㄹ, just add 뿐만 아니라. For example, 만들다 (to make) becomes 만들 뿐만 아니라.
6. 6Nouns:
7. 7You can simply add 뿐만 아니라 after a noun. For example, 한국어뿐만 아니라 (Not only Korean...).
8. 8Or, use the verb 이다 (to be) to say 일 뿐만 아니라. For example, 학생일 뿐만 아니라 (Not only being a student...).
9. 9Past Tense:
10. 10Use -었/았을 뿐만 아니라. For example, 공부했을 뿐만 아니라 (Not only did I study...).

This grammar is incredibly versatile in real-world scenarios. Imagine a job interview. You don't just want to say you speak Korean. You want to say, "저는 한국어를 할 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 영어도 잘합니다" (Not only can I speak Korean, but I am also good at English). It shows confidence!

• In Social Settings: Use it to compliment friends. "그는 성격이 좋을 뿐만 아니라 아주 유머러스해요" (He not only has a good personality but is also very humorous).
• While Traveling: Describe a city. "제주도는 풍경이 아름다울 뿐만 아니라 음식도 맛있어요" (Jeju Island not only has beautiful scenery but the food is also delicious).
• At Work: Reporting on a project. "이 계획은 비용이 적게 들 뿐만 아니라 효과도 커요" (This plan not only costs less but is also very effective).
• Ordering Food: "이 식당은 양이 많을 뿐만 아니라 서비스도 좋아요" (This restaurant not only has large portions but the service is also great).

Even though it’s powerful, don’t overdo it. Using it for every single "and" will make you sound like a textbook come to life. Also, avoid using it with commands (-세요) or suggestions (-자, -을까요) in the second clause. This grammar is mainly for stating facts or descriptions. For example, you wouldn't say "Not only eat this, but also drink that!" as a command using this specific pattern. It’s also wise to avoid using it with completely unrelated facts. Saying "Not only is the sky blue, but I like pizza" will just get you weird looks. Keep the two points logically connected. Finally, don't forget that if you start with a negative trait, the second trait should also be negative. "Not only is he mean, but he is also smart" is okay, but it implies his intelligence is part of the problem!

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes, so don't sweat it too much! The most frequent slip-up is forgetting the 도 in the second part of the sentence. While people will still understand you, it won't sound "complete." Think of it like a grammar traffic light; without the 도, you're stuck on yellow. Another mistake is using the wrong tense in the first clause. If you're talking about something that happened yesterday, make sure to use the past tense form -었/았을 뿐만 아니라. Many learners also forget the ㄹ or 을 and just say 먹 뿐만 아니라—this is a big no-no! Always keep that ㄹ/을 there to act as the bridge. Lastly, watch out for the ㄹ irregulars. 만들다 becomes 만들 뿐만 아니라, not 만들릴 뿐만 아니라.

You might have encountered -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 before. Both mean "besides" or "in addition to." So, what's the difference? -ㄹ/을 뿐만 아니라 is generally a bit stronger and more formal. It places a heavier emphasis on the fact that "A is true, and B is ALSO true." -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 feels a bit more like "adding one thing on top of another" in a more casual, sequential way. If you want to sound authoritative or give a structured presentation, reach for -ㄹ/을 뿐만 아니라. If you're just chatting about why your day was busy, -(으)ㄴ/는 데다가 works perfectly fine. Another one is -기도 하고 -기도 하다, which is more like "sometimes A, sometimes B" or "A and B at the same time" without the specific "not only" emphasis.