Effective Usage of Correlative Conjunctions
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Note: In all examples below, A and B are the same parts of speech. NEITHER A NOR B: Used in negative sense. The verb agrees with the noun that is closer to it. Examples: Neither Kelly nor Sarah likes dancing. His car is neither fast nor reliable. My grandpa neither reads nor watches television. EITHER A OR B: The verb agrees with the noun that is closer to it. Examples: Either you or Jenny has to bring the cake to the party. Either John or his sister is going to pick me up from the airport. I don't like either coffee or tea. NOT ONLY A BUT ALSO B: The verb agrees with the noun that is closer to it. Examples: Not only Tom but also his sister got a promotion at work. I not only study hard but also participate in extracurricular activities. She is interested in not only history but also art. BOTH A AND B: Verbs always take the plural forms. Examples: Both Jim and Ann are attending the conference. Both Jack and his friends have completed the project. He can speak both French and Italian. Grammar Lab