Correlative Coordinators: English Standard 7

Correlative Conjunctions (often called paired coordinators). These are pairs of words that work together to join two equal parts of a sentence.

Here are the teaching notes and examples for these specific coordinators, formatted for easy use.

Definition

These are pairs of joining words that must be used together to connect balanced ideas or objects in a sentence.

1. Either …… or

Used to show a choice between two possibilities. It means “one or the other.”

• Rule: If the subjects are different, the verb follows the subject closest to it.
• Example: Either Juma or Mary has the keys.
• Example: You can either stay here or come with us.

2. Neither …… nor

Used to join two negative ideas. It means “not this one and not that one.”

• Rule: Like either/or, the verb agrees with the closest subject.
• Example: Neither the students nor the teacher was ready.
• Example: He likes neither tea nor coffee.

3. Both …… and

Used to join two ideas and emphasize that they are both included.

• Rule: This always takes a plural verb because you are talking about two things.
• Example: Both Sarah and Jane are coming to the party.
• Example: The food was both delicious and cheap.

4. Not only …… but also

Used to add extra information, usually something surprising or more important than the first part.

• Example: He is not only a teacher but also a football coach.
• Example: She not only wrote the story but also drew the pictures.

5. So …… that

Used to show a cause and a result. So is followed by an adjective, and that is followed by the result.

• Example: The box was so heavy that I could not lift it.
• Example: He ran so fast that he won the race easily.

---

PRACTICE EXERCISE (MCQs)

1. _______ Juma _______ his brother can go to the market; only one is needed. A. Both … and B. Neither … nor C. Either … or D. Not only … but also Answer: C. Either … or
2. She is _______ smart _______ very hardworking. A. so … that B. both … and C. either … nor D. neither … and Answer: B. both … and
3. _______ the boys _______ the girls were able to solve the hard math problem. A. Neither … nor B. Either … nor C. Both … or D. So … that Answer: A. Neither … nor
4. The mountain was _______ high _______ we could not reach the top. A. so … that B. both … and C. either … or D. not only … but also Answer: A. so … that
5. He is _______ a good doctor _______ a talented singer. A. neither … or B. both … and C. so … that D. either … nor Answer: B. both … and

---

SUMMARY TABLE FOR REVISION

Coordinator Pair	Use
Either … or	Choice between two things.
Neither … nor	Rejecting two things (negative).
Both … and	Including two things together.
Not only … but also	Adding an extra, important point.
So … that	Cause and Result.