2. Learning objectives
• to identify structure of correlative conjunctions.
• to indentify the use of correlative conjunctions
• to create a sentence using correlative conjunctions.
10. A. Both my mother and my
sister are here.
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
brothers are here.
Two subjects connected by
both...and take a plural verb. As
in (A)
When two subjects are
connected by not only... But also,
either...or, neither...nor, the
subject that is closer to the verb
determines whether the verb is
singular or plural.
11. F. The research project will take
both time and money.
G. Adi saw not only a fox in the
woods but also a bear.
H. I’ll take either chemistry or
physics next semester.
I. That book is neither
interesting nor accurate.
Notice the parallel structure in the
example.
The same grammatical form should
follow each part of the paired
conjuctions.
In (F): both + noun + and + noun
In (G) : not only + noun + but also +
noun
In (i) : neither + adjective + nor +
adjective
12. 1. Both the teacher and the student____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. Bothh the students and the teachers___planning to come
8. Both the students and the teacher____planning to come.
Exercise
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22. Correlative Conjunctions
The two elements that correlative conjunctions connect should be balanced..
When Tayla's purse was stolen, she lost not only her money, but also
she lost her cell phone.
(The words "she lost" in the second phrase makes this
unbalanced.)
For example....
When Tayla's purse was stolen, she lost not only her money, but also
she lost her cell phone.
23. Recognize correlative conjunctions
Either ... or, neither ... nor, and not only ...
but also are all correlative conjunctions.
Read these examples:
Phillip will either start classes at the
community college or join the Navy,
They connect two equal grammatical items. If, for example, a
noun follows either, then a noun should also follow or.
24. If you connect two subjects with a correlative conjunction, the second subject must
agree with the verb that follows.
Neither my aunt nor my cousins drinks soda.
(Since cousins is listed second, the verb must agree with
cousins. Cousins is a plural noun, so a plural verb is
required.)
For example....
Neither my aunt nor my cousins drink soda.
LACKING SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
CORRECT SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
25. Correlative Conjunctions
Be careful not to form sentences with double negatives.
I think my grandparents forgot about my birthday. I didn't receive
neither a card nor a gift from them..
(The negative word didn't cannot be used in a sentence with
neither/nor.)
For example....
I think my grandparents forgot about my birthday. I received neither a
card nor a gift from them.
DOUBLE NEGATIVE
CORRECTLY WRITTEN
