Correlative Conjunction - Definition, Types, Rules and Examples

The phrase, correlative conjunction indicates that it's a type of conjunction, therefore, it does the task of joining two words, phrases, clauses and sentences. Correlative conjunctions, as the name suggests, show correlative relationship between two words, phrases, clauses or even sentences.

The importance of correlative conjunctions is immense. Either knowingly or unknowingly you use correlative conjunctions in both your spoken and written English. Read the entire article to know all about correlative conjunction definition, types, rules and examples.

What is a Correlative Conjunction?

Correlative conjunction is defined as a type of conjunction that acts in pairs, connects two words, phrases, clauses and sentences and show correlation between them. In simple language, correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions whose main function is to join two correlated items.

In plain language, like coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions join two items of equal grammatical importance. That is, correlative conjunctions show relationship between two nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, two phrases, two clauses or two sentences.

According to the definition of correlative conjunction, the following facts are clear:

• A correlative conjunction is a type of conjunction.
• A correlative conjunction acts in pairs.
• A correlative conjunction shows correlation between two words, phrases, clauses or sentences.
• A correlative conjunction joins two items of equal grammatical importance.
• Two items of equal grammatical rank could be two nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and so on.

There are many correlative conjunctions in English. Only main correlative conjunctions include:

• either/or 
• neither/nor
• both/and
• whether/or 
• not only/but also
• Just as/so
• no sooner/than
• rather/than
• scarcely/when
• such/that
• so/that

Correlative Conjunction Examples

a. You can either go or stay. (This sentence uses the pair of correlative conjunction, "either.....or" to join two verbs, "go and stay".)

b. John is neither a teacher nor a student. (This sentence uses the pair of correlative conjunction, "neither....nor" to join two nouns, teacher and student.)

c. He is both brave and generous. (This sentence uses the correlative conjunction, "both.....and" to join two adjectives, brave and generous)

d. You have to learn correlative conjunctions, whether or not you want to. (This sentence uses the correlative conjunction, "whether or" to join two clauses, you want to go or don't want to go. )

e. Not only teaching students at a university but also teaching students at a coaching center help the teacher gain experience. (This uses the correlative conjunction, "not only.....but also...." to join two phrases, teaching at a university and teaching at a coaching center.)

f. Just as Hindi is spoken in India, so is French spoken in France. (This sentence uses the correlative conjunction, "just as....so..." to join two clauses, Hindi is spoken in India and French is spoken in France.)

g. No sooner did the teacher come than the students stood up. (This sentence uses the correlative conjunction, "no sooner....than...." to join two clauses, the teacher came and the students stood up.)

h. I would rather read a novel than waste time. (This sentence uses the correlative conjunction, "rather....than..." to join two verb phrases, read a novel and waste time.)

i. Scarcely had I reached the classroom when the teacher came in. (This sentence uses the correlative conjunction, "scarcely.....when...." to join two clauses, I reached the classroom and the teacher came in.)

j. It's such a difficult book that we can't understand. (This sentence uses the correlative conjunction, "such....that..." to join two clauses, It's a difficult book and we can't understand.)

k. He speaks English so fast that no one understands him. (This sentence uses the correlative conjunction, "so....that...." to join two clauses, he speaks English fast and no one understands him.)

Correlative Conjunctions List 

• either/or 
• neither/nor
• both/and
• whether/or 
• not only/but also
• Just as/so
• no sooner/than
• rather/than
• scarcely/when
• such/that
• so/that

Correlative Conjunction Rules

To be able to correctly use the correlative conjunctions in sentences, you have to follow some rules that govern the usage of correlative conjunctions. Correlative conjunction rules and example sentences are given below.

Rule 1. When using the correlative conjunctions, you have to follow the subject-verb agreement rules. That is, you need to make sure that the verb agrees with the subject in number and person. 

Example: Neither John nor his friends are honest. (The nearest subject, "his friends" is plural, so the plural verb, "are" is used.)

Rule 2. When using the correlative conjunctions, you have to use the items of equal grammatical rank, either two nouns or two verbs or two phrases or two clauses and so on.

Examples: 

a. I'm both a teacher and a student. (two nouns)

b. You can either read or sleep. (two verbs)

c. Both teaching and helping are good activities. (two phrases)

d. Just as English is spoken in England, so is German spoken in Germany. (two clauses)

Rule 3. When using the correlative conjunctions, you have to make sure that pronouns agree with the subject. 

Example: Neither John nor Sofia did her assignment.

Correlative Conjunction VS Coordinating Conjunction 

The major difference between correlative and coordinating conjunctions is that correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions which connect correlated items and coordinating conjunctions are conjunctions which connect two words, phrases or independent clauses.

Example of Correlative Conjunction:

You can either read or write. (The highlighted words are pairs of conjunctions, therefore, they are called correlative conjunctions.)

Example of Coordinating Conjunction:

He saw a lion and he ran away. (The highlighted word, "and" is a coordinating conjunction (therefore, not pairs of words) which joins two independent clauses.)

Correlative Conjunction VS Subordinating Conjunctions

The main difference between correlative and subordinating conjunctions is that correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions which join balanced words, phrases, or clauses (of equal grammatical rank), and subordinating conjunctions connect a subordinate clause to a main clause. 

Example of Correlative Conjunction:

Both you and I will go to the market. (The highlighted words, "both....and" are correlative conjunctions which join balanced words-two pronouns.)

Example of Subordinating Conjunction:

I listened before I spoke. (The highlighted word, "before" is a subordinating conjunction which joins a subordinate clause, "I spoke" to the main clause, "I listened".)

Correlative Conjunctions Exercises

Question 1: Differentiate between the correlative conjunctions and other conjunctions used in the below-given sentences.

a. He is a student but his brother is a teacher.

b. Just as he speaks Hindi fluently, so does he speak English. 

c. Because you're late, you'll not be allowed to enter.

d. Both teaching and learning are good activities. 

e. He is such a handsome boy that everyone likes him.

Question 2: Use the appropriate correlative conjunctions in the blank spaces in the following sentences.

a. He is.........a teacher....a student.

b. She is.....a beautiful girl.....no one hates her.

c. ..........the teacher came......the students stood up.

d. He is.....generous.....brave.

e. I would......go......sleep.