English — Correlative conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions come in fixed pairs that link two equal elements: both … and, either … or, neither … nor, not only … but also. In She speaks both French and German, both marks the first item and and the second — the two words work together.
How it works
Each half of the pair goes directly before the item it joins, and the two items must be the same kind of element (both nouns, both verbs, etc.): I want either tea or coffee, not only late but also tired. With both … and the subject is plural (Both Tom and Ann were late), but with neither … nor and either … or the verb agrees with the nearer subject: Neither the manager nor the workers were informed; Neither the workers nor the manager was informed.
The four pairs
| Pair | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| both … and | two things together (plural verb) | Both Tom and Ann were late. |
| either … or | one of two options (verb agrees with nearer subject) | Either you or she has to sign. |
| neither … nor | not one and not the other (verb agrees with nearer subject) | Neither the manager nor the workers were informed. |
| neither … nor | same, but singular subject nearer → singular verb | Neither the workers nor the manager was informed. |
| not only … but also | both true, with emphasis added on the second | She is not only talented but also hard-working. |
Good to know
Keep the two joined items parallel: say She likes not only singing but also dancing, not She likes not only singing but also to dance. Also, neither … nor is already negative — don't add another not (say I could neither eat nor sleep, not I couldn't neither eat nor sleep).