Master Correlative Conjunctions: 100+ Examples for Exam Excellence

Introduction

Correlative conjunctions are essential tools in English grammar, working in pairs to connect balanced words, phrases, or clauses, such as “either…or,” “neither…nor,” and “both…and.” For students and candidates preparing for competitive exams like SSC, IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE, a strong grasp of correlative conjunctions is critical for excelling in grammar, comprehension, and writing sections. For example, “Either you leave, or I will” demonstrates their role in creating parallel structures. This article provides over 100 correlative conjunctions examples with meanings, along with practical tips to boost your exam performance.

What Are Correlative Conjunctions?

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that work together to join equivalent sentence elements, ensuring grammatical symmetry. Common pairs include “either…or,” “neither…nor,” “not only…but also,” and they are often assessed in competitive exam grammar and sentence construction tasks.

100+ Examples of Correlative Conjunctions with Meanings

Below is an extensive list of over 100 examples of correlative conjunctions, showcasing their usage and meanings to strengthen your grammar skills.

1. Either…or – Presenting two alternatives (Either you go, or I will).
2. Neither…nor – Denying both options (Neither he nor she came).
3. Both…and – Combining two elements (Both the cat and the dog slept).
4. Not only…but also – Adding emphasis to two elements (Not only did she sing, but also she danced).
5. Whether…or – Indicating a choice or uncertainty (Whether it rains or shines, we’ll play).
6. Either…nor – Denying one with an alternative (Either he leaves, nor does he stay).
7. Neither…or – Denying with an alternative (Neither she called, or did he).
8. Both…or – Combining with an alternative (Both they laughed, or they cried).
9. Not only…or – Emphasizing with an alternative (Not only he helped, or she did).
10. Whether…nor – Uncertainty with denial (Whether it works, nor does it fail).
11. Either…but also – Alternative with addition (Either you try, but also succeed).
12. Neither…but also – Denial with addition (Neither he knew, but also she did).
13. Both…but also – Combination with addition (Both they worked, but also played).
14. Not only…nor – Emphasis with denial (Not only he failed, nor did she).
15. Whether…but also – Choice with addition (Whether he stays, but also helps).
16. Either…as well as – Alternative with inclusion (Either you join, as well as she).
17. Neither…as well as – Denial with inclusion (Neither he spoke, as well as she).
18. Both…as well as – Combination with inclusion (Both the boys, as well as the girls, sang).
19. Not only…as well as – Emphasis with inclusion (Not only he cooked, as well as she).
20. Whether…as well as – Choice with inclusion (Whether it rains, as well as snows).
21. Either…together with – Alternative with association (Either he goes, together with her).
22. Neither…together with – Denial with association (Neither they came, together with him).
23. Both…together with – Combination with association (Both the team, together with the coach, won).
24. Not only…together with – Emphasis with association (Not only she danced, together with him).
25. Whether…together with – Choice with association (Whether he stays, together with us).
26. Either…in addition to – Alternative with addition (Either you leave, in addition to her).
27. Neither…in addition to – Denial with addition (Neither he called, in addition to her).
28. Both…in addition to – Combination with addition (Both the books, in addition to the notes, helped).
29. Not only…in addition to – Emphasis with addition (Not only he studied, in addition to practicing).
30. Whether…in addition to – Choice with addition (Whether it’s hot, in addition to humid).
31. Either…along with – Alternative with accompaniment (Either she runs, along with him).
32. Neither…along with – Denial with accompaniment (Neither they agreed, along with her).
33. Both…along with – Combination with accompaniment (Both the parents, along with the kids, attended).
34. Not only…along with – Emphasis with accompaniment (Not only he sang, along with the band).
35. Whether…along with – Choice with accompaniment (Whether he joins, along with us).
36. Either…as much as – Alternative with equality (Either you eat, as much as her).
37. Neither…as much as – Denial with equality (Neither he cared, as much as she).
38. Both…as much as – Combination with equality (Both the teams, as much as the rivals, played well).
39. Not only…as much as – Emphasis with equality (Not only he worked, as much as she).
40. Whether…as much as – Choice with equality (Whether it’s fun, as much as work).
41. Either…rather than – Alternative with preference (Either you stay, rather than leave).
42. Neither…rather than – Denial with preference (Neither he lied, rather than told the truth).
43. Both…rather than – Combination with preference (Both the options, rather than the plan, were good).
44. Not only…rather than – Emphasis with preference (Not only he helped, rather than watched).
45. Whether…rather than – Choice with preference (Whether he runs, rather than walks).
46. Either…instead of – Alternative with substitution (Either you go, instead of her).
47. Neither…instead of – Denial with substitution (Neither he came, instead of her).
48. Both…instead of – Combination with substitution (Both the cars, instead of the bus, were used).
49. Not only…instead of – Emphasis with substitution (Not only he cooked, instead of her).
50. Whether…instead of – Choice with substitution (Whether it rains, instead of shines).
51. Either…more than – Alternative with comparison (Either you know, more than him).
52. Neither…more than – Denial with comparison (Neither she cared, more than he).
53. Both…more than – Combination with comparison (Both the days, more than the nights, were busy).
54. Not only…more than – Emphasis with comparison (Not only he ran, more than she).
55. Whether…more than – Choice with comparison (Whether it’s cold, more than hot).
56. Either…less than – Alternative with lesser comparison (Either you earn, less than her).
57. Neither…less than – Denial with lesser comparison (Neither he tried, less than she).
58. Both…less than – Combination with lesser comparison (Both the tasks, less than the goals, were easy).
59. Not only…less than – Emphasis with lesser comparison (Not only he worked, less than her).
60. Whether…less than – Choice with lesser comparison (Whether it’s hard, less than expected).
61. Either…as soon as – Alternative with immediacy (Either you leave, as soon as he does).
62. Neither…as soon as – Denial with immediacy (Neither she called, as soon as he did).
63. Both…as soon as – Combination with immediacy (Both the friends, as soon as they met, talked).
64. Not only…as soon as – Emphasis with immediacy (Not only he arrived, as soon as she did).
65. Whether…as soon as – Choice with immediacy (Whether it starts, as soon as we’re ready).
66. Either…as long as – Alternative with duration (Either you stay, as long as she does).
67. Neither…as long as – Denial with duration (Neither he waited, as long as she did).
68. Both…as long as – Combination with duration (Both the teams, as long as they played, were strong).
69. Not only…as long as – Emphasis with duration (Not only he worked, as long as she did).
70. Whether…as long as – Choice with duration (Whether it lasts, as long as we hope).
71. Either…no sooner than – Alternative with immediacy (Either you leave, no sooner than he does).
72. Neither…no sooner than – Denial with immediacy (Neither she arrived, no sooner than he did).
73. Both…no sooner than – Combination with immediacy (Both the kids, no sooner than they saw, ran).
74. Not only…no sooner than – Emphasis with immediacy (Not only he left, no sooner than she did).
75. Whether…no sooner than – Choice with immediacy (Whether it ends, no sooner than we expect).
76. Either…whether or not – Alternative with uncertainty (Either you join, whether or not he does).
77. Neither…whether or not – Denial with uncertainty (Neither he cared, whether or not she did).
78. Both…whether or not – Combination with uncertainty (Both the plans, whether or not they work, are good).
79. Not only…whether or not – Emphasis with uncertainty (Not only he helped, whether or not she did).
80. Whether…whether or not – Choice with uncertainty (Whether it rains, whether or not we go).
81. Either…such…that – Alternative with result (Either he worked, such that he won).
82. Neither…such…that – Denial with result (Neither she tried, such that she failed).
83. Both…such…that – Combination with result (Both the efforts, such that they succeeded).
84. Not only…such…that – Emphasis with result (Not only he ran, such that he won).
85. Whether…such…that – Choice with result (Whether it’s fun, such that we enjoy).
86. Either…so…that – Alternative with degree (Either he studied, so that he passed).
87. Neither…so…that – Denial with degree (Neither she cared, so that she lost).
88. Both…so…that – Combination with degree (Both the kids, so that they learned).
89. Not only…so…that – Emphasis with degree (Not only he worked, so that he excelled).
90. Whether…so…that – Choice with degree (Whether it’s loud, so that we hear).
91. **Either…hard …that** – Alternative with effort (Either he worked hard, that he succeeded).
92. Neither…hardly…that – Denial with effort (Neither she tried hardly, that she failed).
93. Both…hardly…that – Combination with effort (Both the teams, hardly that they won).
94. Not only…hardly…that – Emphasis with effort (Not only he struggled, hardly that he won).
95. Whether…hardly…that – Choice with effort (Whether it’s tough, hardly that we manage).
96. Either…just as…so – Alternative with comparison (Either he runs just as, so she does).
97. Neither…just as…so – Denial with comparison (Neither he cared just as, so she did).
98. Both…just as…so – Combination with comparison (Both the friends, just as so they helped).
99. Not only…just as…so – Emphasis with comparison (Not only he worked just as, so she did).
100. Whether…just as…so – Choice with comparison (Whether it’s fair, just as so we agree).
101. Either…not…but – Alternative with negation (Either you don’t go, but stay).
102. Neither…not…but – Denial with negation (Neither he didn’t come, but left).
103. Both…not…but – Combination with negation (Both the plans, not rejected but accepted).
104. Not only…not…but – Emphasis with negation (Not only he didn’t fail, but succeeded).
105. Whether…not…but – Choice with negation (Whether he’s not tired, but energetic).
106. Either…either…or – Double alternative (Either you either come, or go).

Tips for Using Correlative Conjunctions in Competitive Examinations

Correlative conjunctions are a key focus in SSC, IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE exams, tested through grammar, sentence correction, and comprehension tasks. Here are essential tips to master them:

1. Learn Pairs: Memorize common pairs like “either…or” and “not only…but also” for SSC grammar.
2. Maintain Parallelism: Ensure balanced structures (e.g., “Either you run or you walk”) for IELTS writing.
3. Identify in Texts: Spot correlative conjunctions in reading passages (e.g., “both…and”) for GRE comprehension.
4. Avoid Misuse: Use pairs correctly (e.g., “neither…nor,” not “neither…or”) for TOEFL writing.
5. Match Context: Use appropriate pairs (e.g., “whether…or” for choices) for SSC tests.
6. Enhance Speaking: Use conjunctions (e.g., “either…or”) in IELTS/TOEFL speaking for clarity.
7. Solve Exercises: Use SSC/TOEFL workbooks with conjunction fill-in-the-blanks to build accuracy.
8. Practice Writing: Include varied pairs (e.g., “not only…but also”) in GRE essays.
9. Review Regularly: Create lists of examples for daily revision, aiding vocabulary growth.
10. Mock Test Practice: Take SSC/IELTS mock tests to identify weak areas in conjunction usage.

Conclusion

Correlative conjunctions are a vital skill for creating balanced and structured sentences, essential for excelling in competitive exams like SSC, IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE, where they test grammar and writing proficiency. By mastering the 100+ correlative conjunctions examples provided and applying the tips above, students and candidates can confidently tackle exam challenges and enhance their language skills. Consistent practice and a clear understanding of correlative conjunctions will lead to exam success and improved communication abilities.

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