Arrange the given phrases to make a meaningful sentence. (A) not only…

The correct answer is Option (3) → He lost not only his ticket, but also his luggage.

Not only ... but also (parallel structure):

• Not only ... but also joins two things of the same kind.
• Rule: the word or phrase after not only and the one after but also must be the same part of speech:
  • noun with noun, verb with verb;
  • "not only" is placed just before the first of the two things.
• This sentence: the two things lost are nouns, his ticket and his luggage, so "not only" comes after the verb "lost": "He lost not only his ticket, but also his luggage."
  Example: She speaks not only English but also French.

Why the Other Options are Incorrect?

Option 1: He lost his luggage not only, but also his ticket. — Incorrect. "Not only" comes after the noun it should introduce, so the sentence is broken.

Option 2: He not only lost his ticket, but also his luggage. — Incorrect.

• "Not only" stands before the verb "lost".
• "But also" stands before the noun "his luggage", so the two parts are not parallel.

Option 4: He lost his ticket not only, but also his luggage. — Incorrect. As in Option 1, "not only" is placed after "his ticket" instead of before it.

Contrast: not only stands just before the first of the two nouns (lost not only his ticket); placed before the verb "lost", it no longer matches the noun after "but also".