Correlative conjunctions

Some conjunctions are used in pairs. They are called correlative conjunctions. Most of these are of the coordinating type.

Either -- or

·         You must either follow my instructions or resign.

·         He is either a fool or a madman.

·         Either you or he will have to go.

·         Either you will leave this house or I will call the police.

·         I don’t speak either French or German.

We use either--or to talk about a choice between two possibilities (and sometimes more than two).

·         If you want ice-cream you can have either chocolate, vanilla or strawberry.

Neither -- nor

·         I will neither follow your instructions nor resign.

·         He is neither a fool nor a madman.

·         I neither smoke nor drink.

We use neither -- nor to join two negative ideas. It is the opposite of both--and. Sometimes more than two ideas are connected by neither--nor.

·         He neither smiled, spoke, nor looked at me.

Not only--but also

·         They not only looted the shop, but also set fire to it.

·         Not only John, but Peter also got a prize.

·         He visited not only France but also Germany.

·         She not only plays the piano, but also the violin.

Also is often omitted.

·         He was not only brave but prudent.

Note that in informal English not only--but also is not very common; other structures are generally preferred.

·         She doesn’t only play the piano. She plays the violin too.

Not--but

·         The culprit was not John but Peter.

·         He did not stop the car but drove on.

·         It is not the best but reasonably good.

Whether--or

·         I don’t know whether I should stay or leave.

·         Whether he comes or not makes no difference.

Both--and

·         She is both clever and pretty.

·         He is both scholarly and cultured.

·         Both John and Peter spoke at the meeting.

As/so--as

·         He is not as/so bad as many think.

·         She is not as/so successful as her sister.

·         The situation is not as/so difficult as people make out.

So -- that

·         The task is so difficult that one man alone can’t do it.

·         The officer was so inefficient that he had to be sacked.

Such--that

·         I have such regard for him that I will do anything to please him.

·         Such was her beauty that princes from far and near came to woo her.

Such--as

·         I gave him such help as I could.

·         You must give such an assurance as will satisfy people.

·         Such valuables as she left were sold at an auction.

Note that it is wrong to use that instead of as in these sentences.