There are 9 parts of speech or word classes in English language:
– nouns
– pronouns
– determiners
– verbs
– prepositions
– adjectives
– adverbs
– conjunctions
– interjections

We use conjunctions to connect words, phrases or clauses.

Jack and Jill went to the cinema last night.
– and = conjunction
– The conjunction ‘and’ connects 2 words (Jack and Jill)

I met my teacher and her husband yesterday.
– and = conjunction
– phrase = a combination of 2 words or more
– The conjunction ‘and’ connects 2 phrases (my teacher and her husband)

He knocked on the door and we went in.
– and = conjunction
– clause = a group of words that consists of at least 1 subject and 1 verb
– The conjunction ‘and’ connects 2 clauses
– 1st clause: He knocked on the door (subject= he, verb = knocked)
– 2nd clause: We went in (subject= we, verb = went in)

Independent Clauses

There are 2 types of clauses:
– Independent clauses
– Dependent clauses

Independent clause is a clause that can stand on its on (can be understood on its own).

He knocked on the door and we went in.
– ‘He knocked on the door’ = independent clause
If it is not combined with ‘we went in’, we can still understand the clause.
– ‘We went in’ = independent clause
If it is not combined with ‘he knocked on the door’, we can still understand the clause.

It’s an old car, but it’s very reliable.
– ‘It’s an old car’ = independent clause
If it is not combined with ‘it’s very reliable’, we can still understand the clause.
– ‘It’s very reliable’ = independent clause
If it is not combined with ‘it’s an old car’, we can still understand the clause.

We use correlative conjunctions to connect two parts of a sentence (words, phrases or clauses) that have an equal value, or correlate with one another.
Correlative conjunctions are always in pair (used together).

I want either the cheesecake or the chocolate cake.
– either …or…= correlative conjunction

Correlative Conjunctions
– both …and
– either …or
– neither … nor
– whether …or
– not …but
– not only …but also

I’ll study both English literature and art history.
I want either the pink sofa or the purple one.
Why do you want to visit neither Ireland nor Scotland?
I didn’t know whether you’d want milk or cream, so I grabbed both.
Not the cheeseburger for me, but definitely the fries.
I took not only the pink sofa but also the maroon lamp.

Both …and

We use ‘both…and’ to connect two subjects or two objects.

John went to the zoo.
Jane went to the zoo.
Both John and Jane went to the zoo.
In this sentence, ‘both… and’ connects two subjects.

Bob loved the movie.
Bob loved the book.
Bob loved both the movie and the book.
In this sentence, ‘both… and’ connects two objects.

Either …or

We use ‘either… or’ to show a choice or alternative of two things.

I want either the cheesecake or the chocolate cake.
This sentence presents two choices: the cheesecake or the chocolate cake.

Neither … nor

We use ‘neither… nor’ to create negative statements by joining two sentence elements.

I do not want the cheesecake.
I do not want the chocolate cake.
I want neither the cheesecake nor the chocolate cake.
This sentence is in positive format (we do not use ‘not’), but carries a negative connotation.
I do not want neither the cheesecake nor the chocolate cake. (wrong)

Whether …or

We use ‘whether… or’ to express a choice between two possibilities.

He doesn’t know whether to go or stay.
This sentence expresses two possibilities: to go or to stay.

Not …but

We use ‘not… but’ to emphasize that one thing is true and the other one is not.

The light was not green.
The light was red.
The light was not green but red.

Not only …but also

We use ‘not only… but also’ to emphasize that one thing is true and the other thing is also true.

She wrote the text.
She selected the illustrations.
She not only wrote the text but also selected the illustrations.

Subject-Verb Agreement for Correlative Conjunctions

1. When we use ‘both…and’ to connect 2 subjects, we use a plural verb.

Both my dog and my cat have grown old.
Both my dog and my cat has grown old. (wrong)

2. When we use ‘either…or’ to connect 2 subjects, the verb must agree to the second subject.

Either she or they have the tickets.
Either she or they has the tickets. (wrong)
– they = second subject (plural subject) -> we use plural verb (have)

Either they or she has the tickets.
Either they or she have the tickets. (wrong)
– she = second subject (singular subject) -> we use singular verb (have)

3. When we use ‘neither…nor’ to connect 2 subjects, the verb must agree to the second subject.

Neither she nor they have the tickets.
Neither she nor they has the tickets. (wrong)
– they = second subject (plural subject) -> we use plural verb (have)

Neither they nor she has the tickets.
Neither they nor she have the tickets. (wrong)
– she = second subject (singular subject) -> we use singular verb (have)

Pronoun Agreement for Correlative Conjunctions

1. When we use ‘both…and’ to connect 2 subjects and there is a subsequent pronoun referring to these subjects, we use a plural pronoun.

Both my dog and my cat have eaten their food.
Both my dog and my cat have eaten its food. (wrong)

2. When we use ‘either…or’ or ‘neither…nor’ to connect 2 subjects and there is a subsequent pronoun referring to these subjects, the pronoun must agree to the second subject.

Neither Ann nor her friends could hide their joy at the party.
Neither Ann nor her friends could hide her joy at the party. (wrong)
– her friends = second subject (plural subject) -> we use plural pronoun (their)

Neither her friends nor Ann could hide her joy at the party.
Neither her friends nor Ann could hide their joy at the party. (wrong)
– Ann = second subject (singular subject) -> we use singular pronoun (her)