11.1 Paired Conjunctions

The Paired Conjunctions are the following:

Both... and

Neither... nor

Either... or

Not only... but also

When two subjects are connected with both... and, always use a plural verb.

Example:

Both my mother and sister are at the store.

When two subjects are connected by not only... but also, either... or, or neither... nor. If there is a plural noun in any part of the sentence use a plural v erb, otherwise use a singular verb.

Example:

Not only my mother but also my sister is here. (There isn't a plural noun.)

• Not only my mother but also my sister is here. (There isn't a plural noun.)
• Neither my mother nor my sister is here. (There isn't a plural noun.)
• Somebody is in the house. Either my mother or my sister is here. (There isn't a plural noun.)
• Not only my parents but also my sister are here. (There is a plural noun at the beginning.)
• Neither my parents nor my sister are here. (There is a plural noun at the beginning.)
• Somebody is in the house. Either my parents or my sister are here. (There is a plural noun at the beginning.)
• Not only my sister but also my parents are here. (There is a plural noun at the end.)
• Neither my sister nor my parents are here. (There is a plural noun at the end.)
• Somebody is in the house. Either my sister or my parents are here. (There is a plural noun at the end.)

Notice the parallel structure in the examples. The same grammatical form should f ollow each word of the pair.

Example:

Both + noun + and + noun
The research project will take both time and money.

Not only + noun + but also + noun
Yesterday it not only rained but also snowed.

Either + noun + or + noun
I will take either Chemistry or Physics this quarter.

Neither + noun + nor + noun
That book is neither interesting nor accurate..

        Excercise 1

Supply the correct Present Tense form of the verb in parenthesis.

• 1. (Agree) Neither the student nor the teacher in their opinions.
• 2. (Hear) Either the students or the teacher the answer. hears
• 3. (Play) Not only the girls but also the boy tennis. plays
• 4. (Watch) Both the carpenter and the man the game. watch
• 5. (Want) Neither Carol nor Alan to go skiing this weekend. wants
• 6. (Like) Both John and Ted to go skiing. like
• 7. (Have) Either Jack or Alice the information you need. has
• 8. (Agree) Neither my parents nor my brother with my decision. agrees
• 9. (Be) Both intelligence and skill essential to teach well. are
• 10. (Think) Not only Tony's wife but also his children they should all travel to Hawaii for the next vacation. think