sowohl

Sowohl is a German correlative particle used to connect two elements that share the same grammatical function. In standard usage it is paired with als auch to express either “not only … but also” or the more compact “both.” The construction emphasizes the equal importance or mutual inclusion of the two items that follow.

Construction and examples: The form is typically written as sowohl [Element 1] als auch [Element 2]. The two elements should be parallel in category (nouns with nouns, adjectives with adjectives, verbs with verbs). Examples: “Sowohl der Bericht als auch die Präsentation waren gut.” “Sowohl der Laden als auch der Markt öffnen früh.” “Sowohl gutes als auch schlechtes Wetter ist zu erwarten.” “Sowohl arbeiten als auch lernen fällt ihm schwer.” In each case the verb agrees with the combined subject created by the two elements.

Usage notes: The standard written form is usually “sowohl … als auch ….” Some speakers use the variant “sowohl … wie …,” especially in informal contexts, but it is generally considered less formal than the canonical option. The phrase often appears in statements of inclusion or comparison and can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. For emphasis with a similar sense, German can also use nicht nur … sondern auch, which carries a related meaning but a somewhat different emphasis.

Overall, sowhl serves as a compact way to present two items as equally relevant, connected through a clear and widely recognized grammatical pattern.