Conjunctions - Correlative Conjunctions

These conjunctions are used in pairs. They are used for connecting two grammatical units of equal importance. Hence, they perform the same role as that performed by coordinating conjunctions.

For example:

Either you eat the cake or let me have it.

In this case, ‘you eat the cake’ and ‘let me have it’ have the same importance.

Let us look at some common correlative conjunctions.

Either—or

As a birthday gift you may have either a puppy or a parrot.

Neither—nor

Tarun wanted neither the chocolate nor the apple pie.

Both—and

Both my uncle and my aunt have won medals at the Olympics.

As many—as

There were as many boys as there were girls.

As—as

My understanding of relativity is as good as yours.

Not only—but also

Aamir not only acted in the movie but also directed it.

Whether—or

It will not matter whether you play according to the rules or not.

Hardly—when

Hardly had he begun studying when his friends came into his room.

If—then

If they had played as a team, then they would have surely won the match.