Correlative Conjunction

Correlative Conjunctions (CC) are conjunctions that come in pairs. They got their name from the fact
that they work together (cooperate) and relate one sentence element to another. They relate two
different nouns/noun phrases, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, or actions. Remember that the same
grammatical form should follow each part of the correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions include pairs like:

 Not only . . . but also . . .

- It’s used to join two parallel ideas.
Examples:
 Mahadewi not only sings like an angel, but also dances divinly. (a)
 Jagatraya is not only an excellent student, but also an outstanding athlete. (b)
 George spoke not only to him, but also to me. (c)

- Make sure that “not only” clause immadiately precedes the phrase to which it refers.

Incorrect : William Shakespeare was not only famous in Italy but also in England.
Correct : William Shakespeare was famous not only in Italy but also in England. (d)

(In the above sentences, the adjective ‘famous’ refers both to Italy and England.)
The most important rule to remember about using this construction is that [A = in Italy] and [B =
in England] must be parallel structures or, in other words, the same part of speech, as in the
examples above.

- When this CC starts a sentence, it’s followed by ‘to be’ for its tense.
Examples:
 Not only does she sing like an angel, but she also dances divinly. (e)
 Not only is Jagatraya an excellent student, but he also is an outstanding athlete.
(f)
 Not only did Goerge speak to him, but he also spoke to me. (g)

Notes:
Sentence (a) correlates two verbs: sing & dance
Sentence (b) correlates two noun phrases: an excellent student & an outstanding athlete
Sentence (c) correlates two prepositions: to him & to me
Sentence (d) correlates two adverbs: in Italy & in England
Sentence (e), (f), & (g) correlate two ideas. The first ideas are written with their ‘to be’ for their tense
first, then followed by subject + verb base. The second ideas are written in their tense formula.
 Correlative Conjunction
Correlative Conjunctions (CC) are conjunctions that come in pairs. They got their name from the fact
that they work together (cooperate) and relate one sentence element to another. They relate two
different nouns/noun phrases, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, or actions. Remember that the same
grammatical form should follow each part of the correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions include pairs like:

 Either . . . or . . .
It’s used to talk about two or more choices/possibilities. You can choose one of the choices.
Examples:
 I want either the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate. (a)
 You can either come with me now or walk home. (b)
 Either you leave this house or I’ll call the police. (c)

Notes:
Sentence (a) correlates two noun phrases: the cheesecake & the frozen hot chocolate.
Sentence (b) correlates two verbs: come & walk.
Sentence (c) correlates two actions: you leave this house & I’ll call the police.
 Correlative Conjunction
Correlative Conjunctions (CC) are conjunctions that come in pairs. They got their name from the fact
that they work together (cooperate) and relate one sentence element to another. They relate two
different nouns/noun phrases, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, or actions. Remember that the same
grammatical form should follow each part of the correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions include pairs like:

 Both . . . and . . .
It’s used to join two positive ideas (the opposite of “neither ... nor”). You can choose/have two
things all together.
Examples:
 Kadita both plays the piano and sings. (a)
 Kadita plays both the piano and the guitar. (b)
 Jim failed both chemistry and physics. (c)

Notes:
Sentence (a) correlates two verbs in simple present: plays & sings.
Sentence (b) correlates two noun phrases: the piano & the guitar.
Sentence (c) correlates two nouns: chemistry & physics.
 Correlative Conjunction
Correlative Conjunctions (CC) are conjunctions that come in pairs. They got their name from the fact
that they work together (cooperate) and relate one sentence element to another. They relate two
different nouns/noun phrases, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, or actions. Remember that the same
grammatical form should follow each part of the correlative conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions include pairs like:

 Neither . . . nor . . .
It’s used to join two negative ideas (the opposite of “both ... and ...”). You don’t choose/have
the two thing at all.
Examples:
 Neither Prabu nor Perdana was at home. (a)
 I neither fly nor take the train to Surabaya. (b)
 Neither the money nor the jewelry was stolen. (c)

Notes:
Sentence (a) correlates two names/persons: Prabu & Perdana. It means Prabu was not at home, and
Perdana was also not at home.
Sentence (b) correlates two verbs/actions: fly (it means ‘take a plane’) & take the train. It means I
don’t fly, and I don’t take the train, either.
Sentence (c) correlates two noun phrases: the money & the jewelry. It means the mony and the
jewerly were not stolen.