Correlative Conjunctions: Word Pairs That Team Up

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 10-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

'Lunch today is either pizza or pasta.' What does this sentence tell you?
- You get neither pizza nor pasta
- You get one of the two, not both
- You get both pizza and pasta
Which word correctly pairs with 'both'?
- or
- nor
- and
'Both...or' is a correct correlative pair.
Circle one: True False
Which word correctly pairs with 'neither'?
- or
- so
- nor
In 'Either you call me or you text me', both halves match in shape.
Circle one: True False
Which sentence uses correct parallel structure?
- Rosa likes both swimming and to bike.
- Rosa likes both to swim and biking.
- Rosa likes both swimming and biking.
Which sentence uses correct parallel structure?
- Either you finish your homework or watching a movie.
- Either you finish your homework or you watch a movie.
- Either finish your homework or you watch a movie.
Which sentence uses correct parallel structure?
- Sam neither ate breakfast nor drank juice.
- Sam neither ate breakfast nor drinking juice.
- Sam neither eats breakfast nor drank juice.
Fix the error: 'The storm not only knocked down trees and it flooded the road.'
- Change 'flooded' to 'floods'
- Change 'and' to 'but also'
- Change 'not only' to 'both'
Fix the error: 'You can either ride your bike nor walk to school.'
- Change 'nor' to 'or'
- Change 'either' to 'neither'
- Change 'walk' to 'walking'

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

You get one of the two, not both · Either...or shows a choice between two things, so only one of them will happen.
and · Both always teams up with and. 'Both the rain and the wind' means two things are true together.
False · Both always pairs with and. Or belongs with either, so 'both...or' mixes halves of two different pairs.
nor · Neither pairs with nor to rule out both options: 'Neither the cat nor the dog.'
True · After either comes 'you call me' and after or comes 'you text me'. Both are full matching clauses.
Rosa likes both swimming and biking. · Both halves match: swimming and biking are both -ing forms.
Either you finish your homework or you watch a movie. · Each half needs a matching full clause: 'you finish' pairs with 'you watch.'
Sam neither ate breakfast nor drank juice. · Ate and drank are both past tense, so the two halves match.
Change 'and' to 'but also' · Not only pairs with but also. The fix reads: 'not only knocked down trees but also flooded the road.'
Change 'nor' to 'or' · Either pairs with or, not nor. The fixed sentence reads: 'either ride your bike or walk.'