CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS: BOTH..

AND , NOT
ONLY.. BUT ALSO , EITHER ..OR, NEITHER ..NOR..

Join sentence elements with paired expressions

…and = Not only.. but also…

BOTH… AND NOT ONLY…BUT ALSO

Both is paired with and to add emphasis to Not only and also are paired with but to add
two coordinated elements in a sentence. Both emphasis to two coordinated elements in a
is a focusing adverb and and is a coordinator sentence. Only and also are focusing adverbs, not
for addition. This paired expression is also is a negative adverb and but is a coordinator for
called a "correlative conjunction" contrast. This paired expression is also called a
"correlative conjunction".

NOUN PHRASES
NOUN PHRASES

Both the movie and the play were good. Not only the movie but also the play was
good. (verb agrees with 2nd noun)
(plural verb form)
I liked not only the movie but also the play.
I liked both the movie and the play.

MODIFIERS
MODIFIERS
The actors were both engaging and skillful in
their performances. (Adj) The actors were not only engaging but also
skillful in their performances.
The plot moved both swiftly and artfully
The plot moved not only swiftly but also artfully
throughout the movie. (Adv)
throughout the movie.
The movie is being shown both at The Fox
The movie is being shown not only at the Fox
Theater and in neighborhood theaters. (Prep
Theater but also neighborhood theaters.
Phrase

VERBS
VERBS
Ebert both likes and recommends the movie
Ebert not only likes but also recommends the
movie.
INFINITIVES & GERUNDS INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS

The directors wanted both to win and to The directors wanted not only to win but also to
receive recognition for their work receive recognition for their work.

The producers ended up both extending and The producers ended up not only extending but
expanding their filming hours. also expanding their filming hours.
 Either…or / Neither…nor
Express one or the other or both
Choice vs. Preference

OR — CHOICE OR — PREFERENCE

Or joins like elements such as two nouns, two Or expresses preference "one over the other".
verbs, two adjectives, two adverbs, two Or joins like words, phrases or clauses. Other
phrases or two clauses (same element). Or expressions with prefer, like and would rather
expresses "one or the other, not both". are also express preference.

In school, we can choose gymnastics or

track. (nouns)
Do you prefer gymnastics or track
In other words, we can dance or run. (verbs)
Would you like to dance or run?
We can choose artistic or aerobic activities.
(adjectives)
Would you rather do artistic or aerobic activity?
We perform subtly or powerfully. (adverbs
I would prefer dancing to running.
We choose to use either our creativity or our
physical power
I'd rather use my creative side than my brawny
We have neither physical weakness nor mental side.
weakness. (phrases)
Practice or you will fail. (Choose practice
(success) or failure.)

Either…or / Neither…nor
Coordinate two clause elements
Or vs. Either…or
OR EITHER…OR
Or is placed between two like elements (noun
phrases, verb phrases, adverb phrases, clauses) Either may be added to or for focus or emphasis on
to express option or limited uncertainty. Only the items being considered (not both)
one option is the outcome.

ONE OR THE OTHER—NOT BOTH ONE OR THE OTHER—NOT BOTH

Bob or Jay will race today. (uncertain) Either Bob or Jay will race today. (N or N)

Bob will race or rest today. (V or V) Bob will either race or rest today. (V or V)

Bob and Jay will race earlier or later than you. Bob and Jay will race either earlier or later than you.
(Adv or Adv) (Adv or Adv)
 Nor vs. Neither…nor
NOR EITHER…OR

Nor does not occur alone. It occurs as a Neither…nor expresses "not one nor the
paired coordinator (neither…nor) or as a other". Both Not
coordinator after a negative clause.

BOTH NOT
BOTH NOT
*Bob nor Jay will race today.
Neither Bob nor Jay will race today. (Both
Bob will not race, nor will Jay. not racing)

*Bob will race nor rest today. Bob will neither race nor rest today. (Both
not happening)
Bob will not race, nor will he rest today.

Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
ERROR SOLUTION

*You can either take a break or a short lunch. You can take either a break or a short lunch. (NP or NP)
(VP or NP)
Place either before two parallel (like) elements.

*He didn't like vanilla nor chocolate! He didn't like vanilla or chocolate.
He liked neither vanilla nor chocolate.

*He doesn't want neither of the boys to run. He doesn't want either of the boys to run. (double
negative)

He wants neither Bob nor Jay to run. He wants neither Bob nor Jay to run. (OK double
negative)
*Either the boys will run Either will run (pronoun)
Either boy will run (determiner
Either or the boys will run (quantifier)
Either the boys will run or not. (correlative
coordinator)