Correlative Conjunctions Examples

When you think of a conjunction, you probably think of words like "and," "but," and "or." These are coordinating conjunctions. There are other types of conjunctions, however.

Correlative conjunctions come in pairs. They still serve the purpose of joining or linking things in a sentence, but they are a special type of conjunction pair that works together ("co") to link things or ideas that correlate to each other.

Examples of Correlative Conjunction Pairs

either/or

neither/nor

both/and

rather/than

such/that

The words or phrases connected by correlative conjunctions are equal, unlike the clauses connected with subordinating conjunctions. Correlative conjunctions connect elements that correlate to each other.

Subject-verb agreement becomes complicated with some of the correlative conjunctions. With "both/and" the subject is plural-"both." But with "either/or" and "neither/nor," it is more complicated. The rule of thumb is to use the tense that agrees with the subject closest to the verb. Here is an example:

Either Jan or Chris is coming to the party.

Neither Jeff nor the girls are coming to the party.

Examples of Correlative Conjunctions in Sentences

I would like both the cake and the cookies for dessert.

The young boy would eat neither the soup nor the vegetables for lunch.

Either you clean your room or you do not get to go outside.

Could you ask either Mrs. Jones or Mr. Louis to come to the office, please?

There was such a thunderstorm that we could not go on the field trip.

I would rather take an hour to walk three miles than run them in less time.

When we go to the beach let's pack both the beach umbrella and the tent.

Neither the president nor the Congress likes the outcome of the investigation.

Either Lisa or the coach will bring the bag of gear to the game.

Mrs. Tanner would rather that we take our time than finish quickly and make mistakes.