Correlative

conjuctions
TEAM 5
 Definition of
correlative conjunction

Correlative Conjunctions are

pairs of words that work
together to connect two parts of
a sentence that is related with
one another. They come in
pairs, and you have to use both
of them in different places in a
sentence to make them work.
 Examples of correlative conjunctions
Here are a few examples of correlative conjunctions pairs
which we will discuss.

02 03 04
01
Both/and Not only/but also
Either/or neither/nor
01
Either/or
Either/or is used in a positive
sentence form. we use an either-or
formulation to present two
possibilities. 
 How to use either/or

1. Either/or is placed in front

of the sentence with the
same position
Example :
she has been there
I have been there
Either she or I have been there
The bold words are in the same position
(subject), so we use either/or in front of
those words.
 How to use either/or

2. The verb placed after

either/or, follows the closest
subject
Example :
they have seen the movie
She has seen the movie
Either they or she has seen the movie.
The verb placed after either/or is has/have, since the
nearest subject is she, we use has as the verb.
 Examples of either/or

Jay can help you.

Jake can help you.
Either Jay or Jake can help you.
Niki will clean the class tomorrow
Jeno will clean the class tomorrow
Either Niki or Jeno will clean the class
tomorrow

Salad will be served as dinner tonight.

Steak will be served as dinner tonight.
Either salad or steak will be served as
dinner tonight.
02
neither/nor
neither/nor is used to combine negative
sentences and to present two
impossibilities
 1. Neither/nor is placed in front of the
sentence with the same position

Ex: Willow cannot dance.

Will cannot dance.
Neither Willow nor Will can dance.

How to use The bold words are in the same position (subject),
so we use neither/nor in front of those words.

neither/nor 2. The verb placed after either/or, follows the

closest subject and always in a positive form.

Ex : She was not there.

We were not there.
Neither she nor we were there.
The verb placed after either/or is was/were, since the
nearest subject is we, we use were as the verb.
 Examples of neither/nor

01 03
Lisa does not like him. The child was not sick.
Rose does not like him. The parents were not sick.
Neither Lisa nor Rose like him. Neither the child nor
the parents were sick.

02
Jessi was not the writer of the song.
Jae was not the writer of the song.
Neither Jessi nor Jae was the writer of the song.
03
both/and
This correlative conjunction
is used to combine sentences
in positive forms.
 How to use both/and

Both/and is Subjects with

placed in front of both/and always
the sentence with considered plural.
the same position
 Lily loves to study.
Lea loves to study.
Both Lily and Lea
love to study. I have watched the first movie.
I have watched the second movie.
I have watched both the first and
Examples the second movie.

of both/and Natasha speaks Russian.

Yelena speaks Russian.
Both Natasha and Yelena speak
Russian.

You can be a mother.

You can be a businesswoman.
You can be both a mother and
a businesswoman.
 04
Not only/but also
this correlative conjunction is used to
combine positive sentences and present
two possibilities.
 How to use not only/but also

1. If the same sentence contains no auxiliary verb (no to-be, to-do, modals, to-have)
a) Not only is placed behind subject and finish the first sentence.
b) Add but also and the next sentence element.

2. If contains auxiliary verb (to-be, to-have, modals)

c) Not only is placed behind the auxiliary verb and finish the first sentence
d) Place but also in the next sentence element.

3. If the two sentences have different subjects

e) Not only is placed in the beginning of the sentence and followed by the rest of the first sentence’s
element.
f) Place but also and the rest of the sentence element.
 Examples of not only/but also
She went to the library.
She went to the bookstore.
She went not only to the library
but also the bookstore.
We have to drink a lot of water.
We have to eat nutritious food.
We have to not only drink a lot of
water but also eat nutritious food.
The students were late.
The teacher was late.
Not only were the students but also the
teacher was late.
1.) I love playing … violin … piano 4.) She is … beautiful … talented.
a. Both, and a. Either, or
b. Either, or b. Neither, nor
c. Neither, nor c. Both, and
d. Not only, but also d. Not only, but also
e. Not also, but only e. Either

2.) … Fandi … his employee are not coming to the meeting 5.) Rian is … a busy man … he can’t come to your birthday
a. Both, and a. Such, that
b. Either, or b. Either, or
c. Neither, nor c. Neither, nor
d. Not only, but also d. Not only, but also
e. Either, nor e. Both, and

3.) …. I … my friends are interested in the music. 6.) Whales, dolphins, and walruses are … fish … mammals.
a. Both, and a. Not, but
b. Either, or b. Not only, but also
c. Not only, but also c. Between, or
d. Neither, nor d. Whether, or
e. Neither, or e. Such, that
7.) Lia and I discussed … to attend the meeting … have a 10.) Neither the woman … her daughter has a posititive
representative attend in our place. attitude.
a. Between, or a. Nor
b. Whether, or b. Or
c. Not, but c. The less
d. Not only, but also d. But
e. The more
e. Either, or
8.) … had hotel housekeeper left … the guests entered the room. 11.) I would like to try both the classic tiramisu … creamy
a. Hardly, than cheesecake recipes.
b. No sooner, than a. or
c. Between, or b. And
d. Whether, or c. To
e. Not, but d. Than
e. The more
9.) The more you smile, … you will get positive reactions from
others.
a. The less
b. The more
c. Nor
d. or
e. But
12.) She would rather wash clothes by hand … use a dishwasher. 14.) Do you know the distance from Earth … Mars?
a. To a. And
b. Than b. To
c. or c. or
d. And d. Nor
e. Nor e. But

13.) Choosing between staying at home … working full-time were not 15.) You can either wear open-toe sandals … shoes to work
easy for her. at the office.
a. And a. or
b. To b. Nor
c. or c. And
d. Nor d. To
e. Than e. There