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MUHI English; Empowering Your English

SUMMARY

Parallel Structure
One use of a conjunction is to connect words or phrases that have the same grammatical
function in a sentence. This use of conjunctions is called “parallel structure.” The conjunctions
used in this pattern are and, but, or, and nor. These words are called “coordinating conjunc-
tions.”

Connecting ideas with and
Connecting items within a sentence
(a) No comma : I saw a cat and a mouse
(b) Commas : I saw a cat, a mouse, and a dog.

Connecting ideas with But and Or
And, but, and or are called “conjunctions.” Like and, but and or can connect items within a
sentence.
(a) I went to bed but couldn’t sleep.
(b) Is a lemon sweet or sour?
(c) Did you order coffee, tea, or milk?

Connecting ideas with so
(a) The mom was dark, so I turned on a light
So can be used as a conjunction. It is preceded by a comma. It connects the ideas in two
independent clauses. So expresses results. cause: The mom was dark. Result : I turned on a
light.

Paired Conjunction
Not only ... but also is used to join two parallel ideas.
Both .. and is used to join two positive ideas
Either ... or is used to talk about two choices/ possibilities.
Neither ... nor is used to join two negative ideas

(a) Both my mother and my sister are here. Two subjects connected by both ... and
take a plural verb, as in (a).

(b) Not only my mother but also my sister is here. When two subjects are connected by not
(c) Not only my sister but also my parents are here. only ... but also, either ... or, or neither ...
(d) Neither my mother nor my sister is here. nor, the subject that is closer to the verb
(e) Neither my sister nor my parents are here. determines whether the verb is singular or
plural.

Not only ... but also is used for emphasis
or to indicate surprise. It should be used
sparingly.
(f) The research project will take both time and Notice the parallel structure in the exam-
money. ples. The same grammatical form should
(g) Sue saw not only a fox in the woods but also follow each part of the paired conjunc-
a bear. tions.
(h) I’ll take either chemistry or physics next quar-
ter. In ( f): both+ noun+ and+ noun
( i ) That book is neither interesting nor accurate. In (g) : not only + noun + but also + noun
In (h) : either + noun + or + noun
In ( i) : neither+ adjective + nor+ adjective
NOTE: Paired conjunctions are usually
used for emphasis; they draw attention to
both pars of the parallel structure.

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