GRADE 9 English HEROES AND HEROINES:WORLD – GRAMMAR IN USE:CONJUCTIONS - CORRELATIVE CONJUCTIONS Notes
GRAMMAR IN USE: CONJUNCTIONS — CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS
Subject: English | Topic: Heroes and Heroines — World | Age: 14 (Kenyan)
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that join equal sentence parts (words, phrases, or clauses). They work together — not alone. Examples: both...and, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also.
- both ... and — joins two positive items
- either ... or — offers a choice
- neither ... nor — joins two negatives
- not only ... but (also) ... — adds surprise or emphasis
- whether ... or — shows alternatives
- no sooner ... than, hardly/scarcely ... when — used for quick sequences (time)
Parts joined by correlative conjunctions must be the same grammar type: two nouns, two verbs, two phrases, or two clauses. If they are not parallel, the sentence will sound wrong.
Correct: Both Wangari Maathai and Malala Yousafzai work for change. (two noun phrases)
Wrong: Both Wangari Maathai and she was famous. (noun phrase + clause — not parallel)
✔️ Both Nelson Mandela and Wangari Maathai inspired many people.
✔️ Either Malala Yousafzai or a local teacher will speak at the event.
✔️ Not only did Florence Nightingale improve hospitals, but she also changed nursing education.
✔️ Neither the crowd nor the critics could stop her from helping others.
✔️ No sooner had the hero arrived than the rescue began.
- Not keeping parts parallel: "Both she is brave and helps others" — incorrect.
- Using two negatives with either...or: use neither...nor instead.
- For "not only... but also", remember you can place the verb inversion in the first clause: "Not only did she lead, but she also taught."
- Check that the words after each part are the same type (both nouns, both verbs, etc.).
- When you use "not only" at the start of a clause, you often need to invert the subject and auxiliary verb: Not only did she...
- Use correlative conjunctions to make writing stronger and more balanced — useful in essays about heroes.
- Fill in with the correct pair: (both / either / neither / not only)
a) ________ the teacher ________ the students were moved by the hero's story.
b) ________ the poet nor the actor wants to attend the ceremony. (correct the sentence)
c) ________ the activist ________ the journalist reported on the protest. - Combine the two sentences using a correlative conjunction:
Malala won the award. Her teacher accepted it. (use either...or)
- Fix the sentence to make it parallel:
Both the leader inspired the youth and teaching them about service.
- Choose the correct pair:
She will ________ speak ________ write at the conference. (both / either)
-
a) Both the teacher and the students were moved by the hero's story.
b) Corrected: Neither the poet nor the actor wants to attend the ceremony.
c) Either the activist or the journalist reported on the protest. - Either Malala or her teacher accepted the award. (If you mean one of them accepted it.)
- Corrected (parallel): Both the leader inspired the youth and taught them about service.
Or: The leader both inspired the youth and taught them about service. - She will both speak and write at the conference. (Use both ... and)
- Which pair is negative?
a) both...and b) not only...but also c) neither...nor d) either...or
- Pick the parallel sentence:
a) She both sings and dancing. b) She both sings and dances. c) She both sings and to dance.
Practice using correlative conjunctions in sentences about people you admire — Kenyan or global heroes. Check parallel structure every time and your writing will sound clear and professional.