EXERCISE 15 I), Warm-up.

(Chart 16-4)
What do you notice about the subject-verb agreement in each pair of sentences?
1. a. Either my brother or my sister is going to tutor me in science.
b. Either my brother or my sisters are going to tutor me
m science.
-
2. a. Neither my brother nor my sister is a teacher.
b. Neither my brother nor my sisters are teachers.
3. a. Not only my brother but also my sister has a doctorate
in science.
b. Not only my brother but also my sisters have doctorates
in science.

16-4 Paired Conjunctions: Both ... And; Not Only ... But Also;
Either ..• Or; Neither ... Nor
(a) Both my mother and my sister are here. Two subjects connected by both ... and take a plural verb,
as in (a).

(b) Not only my mother but also my sister is here.
(c) Not only my sister but also my parents are here.
(d) Neither my mother nor my sister is here.
(e) Neither my sister nor my parents are here.
When two subjects are connected by not only ... but also,
either ••• or, or neither ••• nor, the subject that is closer to
the verb detennines whether the verb is singular or plural.
Not only ... but also is used for emphasis or to indicate
surprise. It should be used sparingly.

( f ) T he research project will take both time and money. Notice the parallel structure in the examples. The same
grammatical fonn should follow each part of the paired
(g) Sue saw not only a fox in the woods but also a bear.
conjunctions.•
(h) I'll take either chemistry or physics next quarter.
( i ) That book is neither interesting nor accurate. In ( f): both+ noun+ and+ noun
In (g) : not only + noun + but also + noun
In (h) : either + noun + or + noun
In ( i) : neither+ adjective + nor+ adjective
NOTE: Paired conjunctions are usually used for emphasis;
they draw attention to both parts of the parallel structure.

*Paired conjunctions are also called "correlative conjunctions." irLanguage.com

EXERCISE 16 I)> Looking at grammar. (Chart 16-4)

Complete the sentences with is/are.
1. Both the teacher and the student ----'a'--'r--'-e___ here.
2. Neither the teacher nor the student here.
3. Not only the teacher but also the student ______ here.
4. Not only the teacher but also the students ______ here.
5. Either the students or the teacher planning to come.
6. Either the teacher or the students planning to come.
7. Both the students and the teachers ______ planning to come.
8. Both the students and the teacher ______ planning to come.

364 CHAPTER 16
EXERCISE 17., Looking at grammar. (Chart 16-4)
In the News
Part I. Answer the questions with both ••. and.
1. The homeless received food. Did they receive clothing?
- tes. The homeless received both food and clothing.
2. Passengers were injured in the bus accident. Was the driver injured in the accident?
3. I know the government is increasing taxes. Is the government increasing spending too?
4. The city suffers from air pollution. Does it suffer from water pollution?
Part II. Answer the questions with not only ••• but also.
5. I know crime is growing in the cities. Is crime growing in the suburbs?
- tes. Crime is growing not only in the cities but also in the suburbs.
6. I know our team lost its first game. Did it also lose its second game?
7. I know some tech companies need more workers. Do they need more office space too?
8. I know the city is building a new freeway. Is it also building a new subway too?

EXERCISE 18., Looking at grammar. (Chart 16-4)

At Our Apartment Building
Part I. Answer the questions with either .•. or.
1. The manager has my package, or Mrs. Ramirez has my package. Is that right?
- tes. Either the manager or Mrs. Ramirez has your package.
2. Jonas is going to take care of the neighbor's cat, or William is going to take care of the neighbor's
cat. Is that right?
3. Your sister is driving Ms. Androv to the airport, or your brother is driving her. Right?
4. We can use the front stairs, or we can use the back stairs. Is that right?
Part II. Answer the questions with neither •.. nor.
5. The mail carrier isn't friendly. Is she unfriendly?
- No. She is neitherfriendly nor unfriendly.
6. Her children don't speak English. Does her husband speak English?
7. They don't have an air conditioner in their apartment. Do they have a fan?
8. The window washers weren't fast. Were they slow?

EXERCISE 19 ., Listening. (Chart 16-4)

Choose the sentence (a. or b.) that has the same meaning as the sentence you hear.
Example: You will hear: Sarah is working on both a degree in biology and a degree in chemistry.
You will choose: a. Sarah is working on only one degree.
@ Sarah is working on two degrees.
1. a. Ben will call Mary and Bob.
b. Ben will call one of them but not both.

Coordinating Conjunctions 365

 2. a. My mother and my father talked to my teacher.
b. Either my mother or my father talked to my teacher.
3. a. Simon saw both a whale and a dolphin ..
b. Simon didn't see a whale, but he did see a dolphin.
4. a. Our neighborhood had electricity but not water.
b. Our neighborhood didn't have electricity or water.
5. a. We will have two teachers today.
b. We will have one teacher today.

EXERCISE 20.., Looking at grammar. (Chart 16·4)

Combine each pair of sentences into one new sentence with parallel structure. Use both .•• and;
either ••. or; neither •.. nor.
At the Mall
1. I do not have my credit card. I do not have cash.
� I have neither my credit card nor cash.
2. You can get some shoes now, or you can look online
more.
� W>u can either get some shoes now or look online more.
3. Rika enjoys shopping during sales. Bettina enjoys
shopping during sales.

4. Matt is not joining us. Taka is not joining us.

5. Matt is sick. Taka is sick.

6. This store doesn't have the size I need. That store doesn't have the size I need.

7. We can eat lunch here, or we can look for other restaurants.

8. The manager was helpful. The assistant manager was helpful.

9. You need your receipt for a return, or you need your credit card.

10. The stores close at 10:00. The food court closes at 10:00.

11. We can take the bus home, or we can take the subway.

366 CHAPTER 16
 EXERCISE 21 .- Grammar and listening. (Chapter 16 Review)
(J Choose the correct completions. Then listen to the passage and
check your answers. Do yo u kno w
these word
s?
- u nre asoned
Bats -t angle
W hat do people in your country think of bats? Are they mean - rabies
- pollinating
and scary creatures, or are they symbols of both happiness and
- overripe
c§B>1 lucky? - flourish
1
In Western countries, many people have an unreasoned fear - train (a pet)

of bats. According to scientist Dr. Sharon Horowitz, bats are

not only harm I harmless but also benefit I beneficial
2 3
mammals. "When I was a child, I believed that a bat would attack
me and tangle I tangled itself in my hair. Now I know better,"
4
said Dr. Horowitz.
Contrary to popular Western myths, bats do not attack I attacking
humans. Although a few bats may have diseases, they are not major
carriers of rabies or other frightening diseases. Bats help natural plant life by pollinating plants,
spreading seeds, and to eat I eating insects. If you get rid of bats that eat overripe fruit, then
fruit flies can flourish and destroy I destruction the fruit industry.
7
According to Dr. Horowitz, bats are both gentle and train I trainable pets. Not many
8
people, however, own or train bats, and bats themselves prefer to avoid people.

EXERCISE 22 .- Reading, grammar, and speaking. (Chapter 16 Review)

Part I. Read the paragraph about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was the leader of the 1960s civil rights
movement in the United States that sought to end segregation and
racial discrimination against African-Americans. In 1964, Dr. King
became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
He was assassinated in 1968, but his powerful and inspiring
words live on.
Part II. Underline the parallel structures that you find in these quotes from the speeches and
writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Discuss the ideas. Work in pairs, in small groups, or as
a class.
1. "The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated
to justice, peace, and brotherhood."

Coordinating Conjunctions 367

 2. "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience
but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
3. "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends."
4. "Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time: the need for
mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.
Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and
retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."

EXERCISE 23 • Check your knowledge. (Chapter 16 Review)

Correct the errors.
1. Slowly and being cautious, the firefighter climbed the burned staircase.
2. Janice entered the room and looked around she knew no one.
3. Derek made many promises but he had no intention of keeping any of them.
4. The pioneers hoped to clear away the forest and planting crops.
5. When Nadia moved, she had to rent an apartment, make new friends, and to find a job.
6. All plants need light, to have a suitable climate, and an ample supply of water and minerals from
the soil.
7. Both the main earthquake and subsequent aftershocks was devastating to the town.
8. With their sharp eyesight, fine hearing, and they have a strong sense of smell, wolves hunt
mainly at night.
9. Not only speed but also endurance determine a runner's success in a race.
10. The ancient Egyptians had good dentists archaeologists
have found mummies that had gold fillings in their teeth.

EXERCISE 24 .,_ Writing. (Chapter 16)

Part I. Read the post from social media.

I am looking for a room in an apartment or house. I don't need a lot of space, but I
would like my own bedroom and bathroom. I am a college student and am very
·· neat, clean, and quiet. I will be studying a lot. I am allergic to smoke, so I need a
non-smoking environment. I can do child care, pet-sitting, or yard work in exchange
for partial rent if necessary. I am both hard-working and responsible, and I have
excellent references.

ke 1.....,, ':omnen

368 CHAPTER 16
Part II. Following the example in Part I, write a social media post about something you are
looking for: a place to rent, a car, a pet, etc.

When you are writing for social media, your sentences should be clear, uncomplicated, and to
the point. Readers like to scroll quickly through posts. If they have to work too hard to follow
what you are saying, they may move on to someone else's post.
Emphasize the positive if you are looking for something like a place to rent or a pet, for example.
People want to be assured that they will have a good roommate or that they are giving a pet to
someone who will take good care of it.

Part III. Edit your writing. Check for the following:

1. D clear, uncomplicated sentences
2. D a period, not a comma, between two complete sentences
3. D parallel structure
4. D correct subject-verb agreement with paired conjunctions, e.g., both ... and
5. D correct spelling (use a dictionary or spell-check)

Coordinating Conjunctions 369