It means something additional is included. If it wasn't for the "but also" the sentence would be something like, "The husband is only supposed to earn money for his family". With the addition of "but also" you add more information. You also need to prepare the reader/listener for it. So you add, "not" only, but also. So it means "not one thing but also something else in addition". Not only does the husband earn money for his family, but he must also spend time with the children. I not only teach English I also make my website. Not only have I spoken to her, I've also lived with her. One goes with the other, like "neither nor". I've neither thought about taking drugs, nor encouraged anyone else to do so. Any clearer?

Hi Sarah, Your sentence is very close to correct. Here is a corrected version: Women are required to work not only TO support their children financially, but also to fulfill their children'S material needs. Actually you were correct the first time in the use of 'material 'Materialistic' means a person values material possessions too much.

Material was the correct word to use so your original sentence was correct. Being materialistic means that you are concerned with buying and acquiring things which are not essential to life - things like large TV sets, a new set of the most fashionable clothes in an already crowded wardrobe. Children are not usually like that but they do have need for clothing, food, housing, and medicines though - these are all material needs, the things essential to life.

I should correct mu sentence. Women are required to work to not only support their children financially, but also to fulfill their children materialistic needs