Correlative Conjunctions: Both...And, Neither...Nor, Not Only...But Also
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to link equal sentence elements, ensuring your writing sounds balanced, sophisticated, and precise.
- Both...and: Use for two positive items. Example: Both the CEO and the manager attended.
- Neither...nor: Use for two negative items. Example: Neither the rain nor the wind stopped us.
- Not only...but also: Use to add emphasis. Example: She is not only smart but also kind.
Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to link parallel structures. They add balance, emphasis, and formal precision to your writing — but they demand grammatical parallelism on both sides.
Both...And
Two equally important elements — always takes a plural verb:
✅ Both clarity and precision are required.
✅ Both the CEO and the chairman have approved the change.
Neither...Nor
Double negative — verb agrees with nearest subject:
✅ Neither the report nor the presentation was convincing.
✅ Neither option nor the alternatives were approved.
Not Only...But Also
Emphasis — triggers inversion when it starts the sentence:
✅ The platform is not only user-friendly but also scalable.
✅ Not only did costs fall, but profits also rose. (inversion)
Either...Or / Whether...Or
✅ Either the CEO or the CFO must sign the document.
✅ Whether you proceed or withdraw, the deposit is non-refundable.
Parallelism — The Critical Rule
Both sides of the pair must be the same grammatical structure:
✅ She not only leads the team but also manages the budget. (verb + verb)
❌ She not only leads the team but also is good at budgeting. (verb + adjective — not parallel)
Correlative Conjunction Pairs
| Conjunction Pair | Function | Verb Agreement |
|---|---|---|
|
Both...and
|
Addition
|
Plural
|
|
Neither...nor
|
Exclusion
|
Closest Subject
|
|
Not only...but also
|
Emphasis
|
Closest Subject
|
|
Either...or
|
Choice
|
Closest Subject
|
|
Whether...or
|
Doubt
|
Closest Subject
|
|
Just as...so
|
Comparison
|
Matches Subject
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
|
Not only...but also
|
Not only...but too
|
Meanings
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that join elements of equal grammatical weight, such as nouns, verbs, or phrases.
Addition
Linking two items that share a common status.
“Both Sarah and John are coming.”
“I need both a pen and paper.”
Exclusion
Negating two items simultaneously.
“Neither the car nor the truck started.”
“Neither he nor I knew the answer.”
Emphasis
Highlighting two distinct qualities or actions.
“Not only did he win, but he also broke the record.”
“It is not only expensive but also fragile.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Both X and Y
|
Both John and Mary are here.
|
|
Negative
|
Neither X nor Y
|
Neither John nor Mary is here.
|
|
Emphatic
|
Not only X but also Y
|
He is not only smart but also kind.
|
|
Choice
|
Either X or Y
|
Either tea or coffee is fine.
|
|
Doubt
|
Whether X or Y
|
I don't know whether to stay or go.
|
|
Comparison
|
Just as X, so Y
|
Just as he works, so he plays.
|
Formality Spectrum
Neither the director nor the assistant is present. (Workplace)
Neither the director nor the assistant is here. (Workplace)
Neither the boss nor the assistant showed up. (Workplace)
Neither the boss nor the assistant is around. (Workplace)
Correlative Conjunctions Map
Addition
- Both...and Both...and
Exclusion
- Neither...nor Neither...nor
Emphasis
- Not only...but also Not only...but also
Conjunction Comparison
Verb Agreement Flowchart
Is the subject plural?
Examples by Level
Both cats and dogs are pets.
Neither red nor blue is my favorite.
I like both tea and coffee.
Neither he nor she is here.
She is not only smart but also funny.
Both the book and the movie were great.
Neither the bus nor the train was on time.
He is both a singer and a dancer.
Neither the manager nor the employees were informed.
Not only did they finish, but they also excelled.
Both the cost and the quality are important.
Neither rain nor snow will stop the delivery.
The project is not only ambitious but also highly feasible.
Both the board members and the CEO agreed to the merger.
Neither the evidence nor the testimony supports his claim.
She is not only a brilliant scientist but also a gifted writer.
Not only was the performance technically flawless, but it was also emotionally resonant.
Neither the initial hypothesis nor the subsequent data provided a clear conclusion.
Both the economic implications and the social consequences must be considered.
Neither the candidate nor his supporters were prepared for the outcome.
Not only did the author challenge the status quo, but he also redefined the genre itself.
Neither the historical context nor the linguistic evolution can be ignored in this analysis.
Both the philosophical underpinnings and the practical applications are explored in depth.
Neither the climate nor the terrain proved hospitable to the settlers.
Easily Confused
Learners often use these instead of the paired versions.
Learners mix 'either...or' with 'neither...nor'.
Both are used for addition.
Common Mistakes
Both cat or dog.
Both cats and dogs.
Neither cat or dog.
Neither cats nor dogs.
Not only cat but also dog.
Not only the cat but also the dog.
Both I and you.
Both you and I.
Neither he or she are here.
Neither he nor she is here.
Not only he is smart but also funny.
He is not only smart but also funny.
Both of them and me.
Both them and me.
Not only he likes singing but also dancing.
He likes not only singing but also dancing.
Neither the boys nor the teacher are here.
Neither the boys nor the teacher is here.
Both the car is fast and the bike is cheap.
Both the car is fast and the bike is cheap.
Not only he arrived late, he forgot his keys.
Not only did he arrive late, but he also forgot his keys.
Neither the data nor the results was conclusive.
Neither the data nor the results were conclusive.
Both the manager as well as the staff agreed.
Both the manager and the staff agreed.
Not only the product is good, but also it is cheap.
The product is not only good but also cheap.
Sentence Patterns
Both ___ and ___ are ___.
Neither ___ nor ___ is ___.
He is not only ___ but also ___.
Not only did ___ ___, but ___ also ___.
Real World Usage
I am not only experienced in sales but also in marketing.
Both the pizza and the soda are here.
Not only is this view amazing, but the coffee is also great!
Neither the flight nor the hotel was expensive.
Both the burger and the fries are included.
Neither the theory nor the evidence is sufficient.
Parallelism is Key
Verb Agreement
Use for Emphasis
Formal Tone
Smart Tips
Use 'both...and' to make the list sound more intentional.
Use 'neither...nor' for a more formal and definitive tone.
Use 'not only...but also' to show that the second point is just as important as the first.
Always look at the subject closest to the verb.
Pronunciation
Stress
Stress the second part of the pair for emphasis.
Rising-Falling
Both ↗ and ↘
Indicates a list or inclusion.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember the 'B-N-N' rule: Both needs And, Neither needs Nor, Not only needs But also.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale. On one side, you place 'Not only', and on the other, 'But also'. They must be perfectly balanced for the scale to stay level.
Rhyme
Both and and, neither and nor, not only but also, that's the score.
Story
A chef is cooking. He uses 'both' salt 'and' pepper. He finds 'neither' sugar 'nor' flour in the pantry. He decides 'not only' to bake a cake 'but also' to make a pie.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your day using each of the three main pairs.
Cultural Notes
More frequent use of 'neither' in formal settings.
Tendency to use 'not only... but also' in persuasive marketing.
Strict adherence to parallel structure is mandatory.
These structures evolved from Old English conjunctions that were used to emphasize the relationship between two clauses.
Conversation Starters
What are both your favorite hobbies?
Is your job not only challenging but also rewarding?
Neither the weather nor the traffic was good today, right?
Do you think both the economy and the environment can be prioritized?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Both the teacher ___ the students are here.
Find and fix the mistake:
Neither the cat or the dog is hungry.
Neither the manager nor the employees ___ coming.
He is smart and he is funny. (Use not only)
Both / the / and / the / are / expensive / car / bike.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Which is correct?
Neither the rain ___ the wind stopped the game.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesBoth the teacher ___ the students are here.
Find and fix the mistake:
Neither the cat or the dog is hungry.
Neither the manager nor the employees ___ coming.
He is smart and he is funny. (Use not only)
Both / the / and / the / are / expensive / car / bike.
Both -> ?
Which is correct?
Neither the rain ___ the wind stopped the game.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, 'both' always requires 'and'.
No, it depends on the subject closest to the verb.
It adds emphasis and shows a relationship between the two items.
Yes, it is generally considered more formal than 'not...or'.
Yes, but you must use inversion (e.g., 'Not only did he...').
Mixing up the pairs (e.g., 'both...or').
Yes, but they are more common in formal speech and writing.
Look at the subject closest to the verb in 'neither' and 'not only' constructions.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Ni...ni
Spanish often uses double negatives, which English avoids.
Ni...ni
French requires articles more strictly.
Weder...noch
German syntax is more rigid regarding verb placement.
A mo B mo
Japanese is agglutinative; English is analytical.
La...wa la
Arabic has a different root-based structure.
Ji...you...
Chinese lacks verb conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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