English grammar
It's not that... it's that... (giving the real reason)
Explain a worry by ruling out one reason and giving the real one.
From the scene It's not that I don't love her
In short
To reject one reason and give the real one, say it's not that…, it's that… Or not because…, but because…
Your turn
Which one goes with giving the real reason?
Options: it's not that the wedding is hard · it's that I'm scared of commitment · it's not that I don't love her
Show answer
giving the real reason → it's that I'm scared of commitment
How it works
To reject one reason and give the real one, English says it's not that + clause, it's that + clause.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
It's not that I doubt Marisa, it's that I doubt (blank).
Options: I · myself · me
Show answer
It's not that I doubt Marisa, it's that I doubt myself.
No es que dude de Marisa, sino que dudo de mí mismo.
Good to know
You can also say not because... but because...
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Nothing. It's not (blank) I'm unwell, it's that I'm not sleeping.
Options: that · what · which
Show answer
Nothing. It's not that I'm unwell, it's that I'm not sleeping.
Nada. No es que esté mal, es que no duermo.
rejecting one reason it's not that I don't love her
Tomás
It's not that I don't love her, it's that I'm scared of commitment.
No es que no la quiera, es que tengo miedo al compromiso.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), it's that I'm scared of commitment.
Options: But because you want it to go well · It's not that I don't love her · It's not that the wedding is hard
Show answer
Tomás
It's not that I don't love her, it's that I'm scared of commitment.
No es que no la quiera, es que tengo miedo al compromiso.
giving the real reason it's that I'm scared of commitment
Tomás
It's not that I don't love her, it's that I'm scared of commitment.
No es que no la quiera, es que tengo miedo al compromiso.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
It's not that I don't love her, (blank).
Options: not because you don't love her · it's that I'm scared of commitment · it's not that the wedding is hard
Show answer
Tomás
It's not that I don't love her, it's that I'm scared of commitment.
No es que no la quiera, es que tengo miedo al compromiso.
with a different subject it's not that the wedding is hard
Javi
Relax, mate. It's not that the wedding is hard... it's that your best man is me.
Tranquilo, parce. No es que la boda sea difícil... es que tu padrino soy yo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Relax, mate. (blank)... it's that your best man is me.
Options: It's not that the wedding is hard · It's not that I don't love her · It's that I'm scared of commitment
Show answer
Javi
Relax, mate. It's not that the wedding is hard... it's that your best man is me.
Tranquilo, parce. No es que la boda sea difícil... es que tu padrino soy yo.
the same idea, with because not because you don't love her, but because you want it to go well
Your turn
What goes with not because you don't love her, but because you want it to go well?
Options: rejecting one reason · giving the real reason · the same idea, with because
Show answer
not because you don't love her, but because you want it to go well → the same idea, with because
Common mistake
Not what or which here. It's not ___ + a full sentence.
It's not that I don't love her, it's that I'm scared of commitment.
No es que no la quiera, es que tengo miedo al compromiso.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| rejecting one reason | it's not that I don't love her |
|---|---|
| giving the real reason | it's that I'm scared of commitment |
| with a different subject | it's not that the wedding is hard |
| the same idea, with because | not because you don't love her, but because you want it to go well |
More lines from the story
- TomásIt's not that I doubt Marisa, it's that I doubt myself.No es que dude de Marisa, sino que dudo de mí mismo.
- TomásNothing. It's not that I'm unwell, it's that I'm not sleeping.Nada. No es que esté mal, es que no duermo.
- NuriaTomás, what's wrong with you today?Tomás, ¿qué te pasa hoy?
- TomásNothing... well, yes. I'm scared.Nada... bueno, sí. Tengo miedo.