Correlative Conjunctions

What Are Correlative Conjunctions?

Correlative Conjunctions are basically a pair of Conjunctions which are used together as a set, in order to make one sentence element relate to the other. They always occur in a team and the user has to use both in the same sentence to make it work.

Correlative Conjunctions include pairs like “both / and”, “either/or”, “neither/nor”, “not/but” and “not only/but also”

Examples:

i.         Every night, either the sound of the traffic or raucous neighborhood keeps me awake.

ii.       Not only John but also Jack has got feelings for you.

Detailed list:

·         Either/or( Indicates a choice / possibility)

Example - I want either the tea or the coffee.

·         Both/and  (Used for combining two elements words or phrases of exactly same importance in a sentence)

Example -We'll have both the chocolate mousse and wine.

·         Whether/or(Used for expressing two different options within a sentence and can be used both for confirmation and negation)

Example - I didn't know whether you'd want the dry version or the gravy version, so I got both.

·         Neither/nor(Used for negating two different choices)

Example - Oh, you want neither the chicken nor the fish? No problem.

·         Not only/but also(Used to combine sentences that are demonstrating two choices that are contradictorily but true )

Example - I'll eat them both - not only the chicken but also the fish.

·         Just As / so (Used for explaining a relation or similarity between two subjects)

Example - Just as you could be stubborn , so could I .

Other lesser used Examples:

Not/but - I see you're in the mood not for a movie but theater. I have got ticket for both of them.

As/as - Bowling isn't as fun as batting.

Such/that - Such was the nature of their hazardous expedition that they never would have made it even if the weather had been favourable.

 Scarcely/when - I had scarcely walked in the door when I found them in the compromising position and made a hasty exit.

As many/as - There are as many holes as buttons in this dress.

No sooner/than - I'd no sooner lie to you than make a death wish.

Rather/than - She'd rather live her life according to her terms than toe the line.

Correlative Conjunctions, connect two equal parts of a sentence. In this sense, they have more in common with Co-ordinating Conjunctions than Subordinating Conjunction which joins a Dependent clause to a main clause.

Correlative Conjunctions, much like their counterpart Co-ordinating Conjunctions connect words and phrases that carry equal weight age within the sentence structure.

For example, "both/and" connects either two subjects or two objects:

·         Both Radha and I scored well in the exam. (subjects)

·         Jon enjoyed both the movie and the book. (objects)

"As/as" compares nouns using an adjective or an adverb:

·         Jack is as intelligent as Johnny.

·         A giraffe can't run as fast as a gazelle.

"Not only/but also" can connect nouns or entire clauses:

·         I'm not only going to start a separate company, but also shifting to a new house.

·         Not only will I make you pay the penalty, but also put you behind bars.

English Grammar and Composition

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