Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to link two words, phrases, or clauses. Getting the structure and verb agreement right is essential for accurate, natural-sounding English.
What are correlative conjunctions?
Correlative conjunctions come in pairs. Together they connect two grammatically equal elements — two nouns, two adjectives, two clauses, etc.
| Pair | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| both … and | includes both | Both Tom and Anna passed the exam. |
| either … or | one or the other | You can have either tea or coffee. |
| neither … nor | not one and not the other | Neither the manager nor the staff knew. |
| not only … but also | adds emphasis — two things | She is not only talented but also hardworking. |
| whether … or | two alternatives | I don't know whether to go or stay. |
| as … as | comparison — equal degree | She is as tall as her brother. |
Subject-verb agreement with correlative conjunctions
When two subjects are joined by a correlative conjunction, the verb agrees with the subject closer to the verb (the second subject).
Neither the students nor the teacher was informed. (teacher = singular → was)
Either Tom or the managers are responsible. (managers = plural → are)
Both the cat and the dog are hungry. (both always plural → are)
Parallel structure
Each part of the pair must be followed by the same grammatical form (noun + noun, verb + verb, adjective + adjective).
She is both intelligent and creative. ✓ (adj + adj)
She is both intelligent and a hard worker. ✗ (adj + noun phrase — not parallel)
'Neither … nor' is negative. Do not add another negative word: "Neither he nor she knew" ✓ — not "Neither he nor she didn't know" ✗.
Not only … but also: When this pair starts a sentence, it triggers inversion: "Not only did he arrive late, but he also forgot his homework." The inversion affects the first clause only.