Using "not only" without clarifying what else was done

Question

Consider the sentence:

I did not only go to the store.

It has the same meaning as

Going to the store was not the only thing I did.

Is the first sentence grammatically correct, or do I need to add an independent clause to it?

I do not only disagree with the previous comment, but I also think the first sentence makes complete sense. It's less common to omit a second clause, but that doesn't mean it's wrong to do so. If I did not go to the store is fine (which it is), then I did not only go to the store is also fine. — Jason Bassford, Commented Aug 30, 2019 at 1:12

lbf · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-30 02:13:19Z

1

I did not only go to the store.

The sentence is grammatically correct, but it does beg a second clause or sentence(s).

Going Down Under Over

I did not only go Down Under.

The second sentence cited from Google Books:

It is a great story to show how God took my family to Australia.

In context I would suspect the next sentence(s) would explain what else one did on the trip to the store.

answered Aug 30, 2019 at 2:13

lbf

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