Correlative Conjunctions — both…and, either…or

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that work together to join two equal elements in a sentence. Common pairs include both…and, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, and whether…or.

What are Correlative Conjunctions?

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that join two parallel elements. The two parts must be grammatically equal (both nouns, both verbs, both clauses, etc.).

Pair	Use
both … and	joining two positive items
either … or	presenting a choice (positive)
neither … nor	joining two negative items
not only … but also	adding an extra point
whether … or	presenting two possibilities

Examples in Context

both … and

She is both kind and clever. (kind = adjective, clever = adjective — parallel ✓)

either … or

You can have either tea or coffee. (tea = noun, coffee = noun — parallel ✓)

neither … nor

Neither the teacher nor the students heard the alarm. (teacher = noun phrase, students = noun phrase — parallel ✓)

not only … but also

He is not only a talented musician but also a great teacher.

Subject–Verb Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions

When the correlative conjunction joins two subjects, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

Either the coach or the players are responsible. (players → are) Neither the players nor the coach is responsible. (coach → is)

Warning

With both…and, the verb is always plural: Both the teacher and the student are present.

Parallel Structure

Both parts of the pair must be the same grammatical form.

✗ She likes both swimming and to run. ✓ She likes both swimming and running. (both gerunds)

Real world: job advertisement

Applicants must be both flexible and reliable. The role is suitable for either recent graduates or experienced professionals.

Real world: product comparison

Not only is the new model faster, but it also uses less power. Neither the price nor the design has changed since last year.

Tip Correlative conjunctions appear in formal and professional writing: job ads ("both experience and enthusiasm required"), product descriptions ("not only durable but also lightweight"), and academic essays ("neither the data nor the method supports this claim"). They add precision and balance to sentences.

Practice Problems

Complete: '__ you work hard, __ you won't succeed.' (not only / but also OR either / or OR neither / nor)

Show answer

'Neither … nor': 'Neither working hard nor luck alone will guarantee success.' But for this specific structure, 'If you don't work hard, you won't succeed' is more natural. The intended answer: 'Either you work hard, or you won't succeed.'

Fix the parallel structure: 'He wants both to travel and seeing new places.'

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'He wants both to travel and to see new places.' (both infinitives — parallel)

Choose the correct verb: 'Neither the cat nor the dogs __ allowed inside.' (is / are)

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'are' — the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'dogs' (plural).