PAIRED CONJUNCTIONS

PAIRED CONJUNTIONS
BOTH …AND, EITHER…OR, NEITHER …NOR, NOT ONLY…BUT ALSO
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A. Examples:
Both my mother and my sister are here.
Not only my mother but also my sister is here.
Not only my sister but also my parents are here.
Either my father or my mother comes here.
Neither my parents nor my sister is here.
Neither my sister nor my parents are here.
* Notes:
- Two subjects connected by both …and take a plural verb.
- When two subjects are connected by not only……but also, either …… or, neither ……nor, the subject that is closer to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

B. Examples:
The research project will take both time and money.
Yesterday not only rained but (also) snowed.
I’ll take either chemistry or physics next quarter.
That book is neither interesting nor accurate.

* Notes: Notice the parallel structure in the examples. The same grammatical form should follow each word of the pair.
In (1): both + noun + and + noun
In (2): not only + verb + but also + verb
In (3): either + noun + or + noun
In (4): neither + adj + nor + adj

* Exercise 4: Supply is or are in the following:
1. Both the teacher and the student ………..here.
2. Neither the teacher nor the student …………here.
3. Not only the teacher or the student ………….here.
4. Not only the teacher but also the student ……………here.
5. Either the students or the teacher …………planning to come.
6. Either the teacher or the students …………planning to come.

* Exercise 5: Combine the following into sentences that contain parallel structure. Use appropriate paired conjunctions: both …and, not only…but also, either …or, neither …nor:

Ron enjoys horseback riding. Bob enjoys horseback riding.
( …………………………………………………………..
Arthur is not in class today. Ricardo is not in class today.
( …………………………………………………………..
Arhtur is absent. Ricardo is absent.
( …………………………………………………………..
We can fix dinner for them here, or we can take them to a restaurant.
( …………………………………………………………..
She wants to buy a Ford, or she wants to buy a Toyota.
( …………………………………………………………..
We could fly or we could take the train.
( …………………………………………………………..
The library does not have the book I need. The bookstore does not have the book I need.
( …………………………………………………………..
Coal is an irreplaceable natural resource. Oil is an irreplaceable natural resource.
( …………………………………………………………..
Her roommates do not know where she she is. Her brother does not know where she she is.
( …………………………………………………………..
10. He does not have a pen. He does not have paper.
( …………………………………………………………..