Correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions

Look at the examples:

Correlative conjunctions - You can choose either ice cream or cake.

come in pairs and get - Neither Joanne nor Sylvia can play chess.
their name from the fact
that they work together - Both my mother and my father enjoy
and connect items with staying at home on Saturday.
the same gramatical - You can either wait here or come back
function. later. Which do you prefer?
 Correlative conjunctions
CONJUNCTIONS / USES
Either… or
▪ To connect two (or more) ideas that
express alternatives.
▪ In negative sentences, the meaning is
similar to neither… nor.
Neither… nor
▪ To connect two or more negative
alternatives; the verb is always in the
affirmative.
Both… and
▪ To emphasise the link between two
things/people; the plural form of the verb
is always used.
EXAMPLES
- Connecting the compound subject
Either Adrian or Fred has my new CD.
- Connecting two clauses
Either he goes to pick her up or I’ll go.
- Connecting two prepositional phrases
They won’t go either by train or by bus.
- Connecting the compound subject
Neither Mary nor Fred could come with us.
- Connecting the compound object
He speaks neither English nor German.
- Connecting the compound subject
Both Laura and Stewart are travelling to India
next month.
Correlative conjunctions

Singular or plural?

• When either… or, neither… nor link two singular elements, the verb is normally singular. A
plural verb is more informal.
Example: Either/Neither Rose or/nor Peter is going to write an article for the school
newspaper.

• A collective noun as a subject can either be considered a singular entity or a plural group
of individuals.
Example: If neither Porto nor Benfica win(s), Sporting go(es) to the top of the table.

• If one of the elements is plural, we use a plural verb.

Example: Neither my sister nor my parents were at home when I arrived.
Correlative conjunctions
Complete the sentences with the
correct correlative conjunctions.

1. There’s always a choice. You can ______

either do it ____
or not.
2. _____ and Mr Stevenson are attending the meeting in Paris
Both Francis ____
next week.
Neither my teacher ____
3. _______ nor my parents know the answer.
either go to the cinema with her boyfriend ____
4. She can ______ or her sister.
5. Both
____ Stephanie ____
and Mark had lunch at the school canteen.
6. This article is _______
neither informative ____
nor interesting.
Correlative conjunctions
Read the sentences and complete
them with a singular or plural verb.

1. Neither the football player nor the coach _____

wants (want)
to lose the game.
2. Either grandma or my parents ________
are going (be going) to
bring an apple pie.
3. Either the boss or his secretary, not both of them, ____
has
(have) ordered lunch.
4. Neither the company nor its workers _____look (look)
forward to the strike.
5. Either this contract or the new one ______
needs (need) to
show the details of your employment.
6. Either Chelsea or Arsenal _____
has (have) a good chance
of winning.
Correlative conjunctions