Correlative Conjunctions

(Paired Conjunctions)
 Both … and …
[indicating two things or people together]

Jacob completes Ice Bucket Challenge Mr. Cheng completes Ice Bucket Challenge

Both Jacob and Mr. Cheng complete Ice Bucket Challenge

Both Jacob and Mr. Cheng are extremely excited in taking that challenge
 Either … or …
[indicating two alternatives, but only one will appear]

You can wear a black Bomber jacket You can wear a green Bomber jacket

You can wear either a black or green Bomber jacket

 Neither … nor …
[indicating two or more negative statements]

Gerald doesn’t wear a green Bomber jacket Sam doesn’t wear a green Bomber jacket

Neither Gerald nor Sam wears a green Bomber jacket

Neither Gerald nor Sam wears a luxurious watch
 Not only … but also …
[indicating additional information]

David Nunan is a great author David Nunan is an outstanding teacher

David Nunan is not only a great author of numerous language

teaching books but also an outstanding teacher.
David Nunan not only writes various practical books in teaching
but also performs excellent teaching in secondary school.
 Whether … or …
[indicating two options or alternatives]

EED graduate can work as a tour guide EED graduate can work as an English teacher

Graduating from the university, EED graduate can work whether as

a tour guide or English teacher
 Two Considerations in Correlative
Conjunctions

1. Subject-Verb Agreement
2. Parallelism
 Subject-Verb Agreement
• The subject that is closer to the verb
determines whether the verb is singular or
plural.
Example:
(a) Either Vanessa or Jill are is allergic to cat.
(b) Either Vanessa or her sisters is are allergic to cat
(c) Either Mark or Jack drive drives a new sport car.
(d) Either Mark or his twin brothers looks look after a
formidable tarantula.
 Subject-Verb Agreement
(e) Neither lion nor wolf are is herbivore.
(f) Neither lion nor wolves is are tame animals.
(g) Neither Jackie nor Johnny live lives in a small apartment.
(h) Neither Jackie nor his children likes like watching Naruto.
(i) Not only my sister but also my mother are is here.
(j) Not only my sister but also my parents is are here.
 Parallelism
• Using parallel structure
Example:
The book is neither interesting nor accuracy
accurate.
You can develop both intelligence and creative
creativity in collaborative work.
She not only teaches English but also training trains
Karate.
IPhone is either prestigious or innovation innovative.
 EXERCISE
Write one sentence joining the two ideas with a correlative
conjunction (both . . . and; not only . . . but also; either . . .
or; whether . . . or; and neither . . . nor).

1.She isn’t from Hong Kong. She isn’t from Mexico.

2.Vania lost her passport. She lost her driving license too.
3.We have an essay due next Tuesday. We also have a
grammar test next Tuesday.
4.Cake could be served at the party. Pie could be served at
the party.
5.I am not sure to go on vacation. I am not sure to stay at
home.