No es que... sino que...

It's not that... but rather... / It's not... it's...

Sentence Frames

Notes & Usage:

Used to correct a misunderstanding by replacing what isn't true with what is. No es que + subjunctive, sino que + indicative.

No es que no quiera ayudar, sino que no tengo tiempo.

It's not that I don't want to help, but rather I don't have time.

No es que sea difícil, sino que requiere práctica.

It's not that it's difficult, it's that it requires practice.

—¿No te gusta? —No es que no me guste, sino que no es para mí.

—Don't you like it? —It's not that I don't like it, but rather it's not for me.

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