Correlative Conjunctions II – A closer look on syntax.

As you read in a previous article, the correlative conjunctions, as the name suggests, establish a relation between two terms, may they be clauses, phrases or simply words. Below you’ll find them again in more details:

Both…and --- not only…but also.
Either…or ---- neither…nor --- whether…or --- if…or.

Below you will find the syntax for all the sets:

X + term1 + y + term 2.

Where X stands for the first element of the conjunction set and Y the second.

Both…and --- not only…but also.

Some examples follow:

1) Jessica is beautiful and intelligent.
2) Jessica is both beautiful and intelligent.
3) Jessica is not only beautiful but also intelligent.

Term 1 is: Jessica is beautiful.
Term 2 is: Jessica is intelligent.

Note that similar parts in both elements stay out of the syntax.

Jessica = Jessica; is = is.

Thus: Jessica is X beautiful Y intelligent.

Remember this: Similarities stay out of the syntax.

More examples:

Term 1 = Jessica has two little brothers.
Term 2 = Jessica takes care of them.

Syntax: Jessica X has two little brothers, Y takes care of them.

Thus:

Jessica both has two little brothers, and takes care of them.
Jessica not only has two little brothers, but also takes care of them.

Either…or

As mentioned above, this conjunction set establishes two options: you can have only one of them, not both.

The syntax is the same: X+term1+Y+term2

And remember this: Similarities stay out of the syntax.

Examples:

Term 1: go to the movies. Term 2: go to the park.

Thus: You can go to either the park or the movies.

* either to the park or to the movies is very common too.
** don’t separate the from the noun it determines.

Term 1: have breakfast. Term 2: read a book.

Thus: She can either have breakfast or read a book.

neither…nor

This conjunction set is simply the negative counterpart of either…or.

If the latter says you have two options, this one says you have two prohibitions or inabilities:

Term 1: I can’t dance Salsa. Term 2: I can’t cook Cuban food.

Thus: I can neither dance salsa nor cook Cuban food.

NB: since the set is negative, the verb stays in the affirmative mode.


whether…or --- if…or.

As for these sets, they’re synonyms and they establish conditions:

Examples:

I need to know if you want to stay or not.
Whether she likes me or not, I like her.

So, that’s it. Study these sets well and e-mail me if you need more help.


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