English language: correlative conjunctions

For standard writing skill we have to know about Correlative Conjunctions.

You know what a conjunction is, you’ve mastered coordinating conjunctions, and you’re pretty sure you understand subordinating conjunctions; there’s only one more problem now between you and total conjunction authority: correlative conjunctions.


What Are Correlative Conjunctions?

Correlative conjunctions are types of like tag-team conjunctions. They come in pairs, and you have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work. They get their name from the information that they work together (co-) and relate one sentence part to another. Correlative conjunctions include pairs like “both/and,” “whether/or,” “either/or,” “neither/nor,” “not/but” and “not only/but also.”

    We want either the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate.
    We’ll have both the cheesecake and the frozen hot chocolate.
    I didn’t know whether you’d want the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate, so I got you both.
    Oh, you want neither the cheesecake nor the frozen hot chocolate? No problem.
    I’ll eat them both - not only the cheesecake but also the frozen hot chocolate.
    I see you’re in the frame of mind not for dessert but appetizers. I’ll help you with those too.

Here are some more pairs of correlative conjunctions:

    as/as - Bowling isn’t as fun as skeet shooting.
    such/that - Such was the nature of their relationship that they never would have made it even if they’d wanted to.
    scarcely/when - I had scarcely walked in the door when I got the call and had to run right back out again.
    as many/as - There are as many curtains as there are windows.
    no sooner/than - I’d no sooner lie to you than strangle a puppy.
    rather/than - She’d rather play the drums than sing.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are more alike to coordinating conjunctions than to subordinating conjunctions in that the sentence remains they join are fairly equal. Subordinating conjunctions connect independent and dependent clauses, which have totally different functions. Coordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions, on the other hand, connect words and phrases that hold the same weight in the sentence.

For example, “both/and” connects either two subjects or two objects:

    Both Jon and Lauren enjoyed the movie. (subjects)
    Jon enjoyed both the movie and the popcorn. (objects)

“As/as” compares nouns using an adjective or an adverb:

    Peter is as tall as Jeff.
    A Lion can’t run as fast as a Cheetah.

“Not only/but also” can connect nouns or entire clauses:

    I’m going not only to the concert, but also backstage!
    Not only will I see your ten, but I’ll also raise you twenty.

Congratulations! You now know everything there is to know about correlative conjunctions.