Correlative conjunctions
(both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only… but also)
Correlative conjunctions join words, phrases, and clauses. When it is the case the grammatical
structures they join have to be similar
(parallel structure)
Joining words
My children like both hamburguers and french fries.
Noun Noun
Danny not only entered but also won the marathon.
verb verb
In Tabasco is either rainy or warm.
adj adj
Joining phrases
I don’t remember very well the location of the office,
you can find it either next to the bank or between the bakery and the restaurant.
Prepositional Prepositional
phrase phrase
Joining clauses
Neither I did exercise nor I ate healthy during these vacations.
sentence sentence
Remember to use Parallel structure with correlative conjunction
My children like both hamburguers and french fries. correct
Noun Noun
My children like both hamburguers and to eat french fries. incorrect
Noun verb
Danny not only entered but also won the marathon. correct
verb verb
Danny not only entered but also he won the marathon. incorrect
verb sentence
Neither I did exercise nor I ate healthy during these vacations. correct
sentence sentence
Neither I did exercise nor ate healthy during these vacations. incorrect
sentence Verb
Agreement subject-verb
Both… and
This conjunction takes always plural form of the verb
Both my sister and my brother like junk food Correct
(verb in plural form)
Both my sister and my brother likes junk food Incorrect
(verb in singular form)
Both Spanish and Catalan are Romance languages Correct
(verb in plural form)
Both Spanish and Catalan is Romance languages Incorrect
(verb in singular form)
Either… or, neither… nor, not only… but also
These conjunctions could take singular or plural verb form. It
depends on the closer noun or pronoun.
Neither my sister nor my brother likes junk food Correct
(closer noun is singular, so the verb is in singular form)
Neither my sister nor my brother like junk food Incorrect
Neither my sister nor my parents like junk food Correct
(closer noun is plural, so the verb is in plural form)
Neither my sister nor my parents likes junk food Incorrect
inversion subject-verb
neither… nor, not only… but also
• These conjunctions could be found with the inverted subject-verb.
• The inversion is in the first part when “Not only… but also” is used.
• Be careful with the auxiliar do/did, the main verb take base form
Neither can Kyle sing, nor can she play an instrument.
Inversion S-V Inversion S-V
With NOT ONLY… BUT ALSO the inversion is in the first part
Not only will Susan arrive late to the class, but also she won’t bring the homework.
Inversion S-V
Neither did Kyle sing in the concert, nor did she play with the band.
Base form of Base form of
the verb the verb
Neither did Kyle sang in the concert, nor did she played with the band. Incorrect
Not only does Susan arrive late to the class, but also she doesn’t bring the homework.
Base form of
the verb
Not only does Susan arrives late to the class, but also she doesn’t bring the homework. Incorrect
Neither… nor
neither… nor
This conjunction is negative in his own, so the verb form is always
in positive form
Neither will I visit my family, nor will I go out with my friends.
Neither won’t I visit my family, nor won’t I go out with my friends. Incorrect
Be careful with the paired conjunction
Neither… nor
Either… or
Neither the bus has passed, nor my father arrives to go to school.
Neither the bus has passed, or my father arrives to go to school. Incorrect
Either French or English is spoken in Canda.
Either French nor English is spoken in Canda. Incorrect
