Paired Selection: Choosing the Correct Correlative Conjunction Pair Quiz

This statement is true. 'Whether/or' is often used when a decision is yet to be made or when doubt exists between two specific options.

Correlative conjunctions must connect elements that are grammatically equivalent (e.g., noun phrase with noun phrase, verb with verb) to maintain parallel structure.

This is false. 'Neither/nor' is used to negate both options, meaning neither choice is true or possible. 'Either/or' is used for a positive choice.

The pair 'either/or' is used to present a choice between two equal options, meaning the person can select one or the other but not both.

The pair 'not only/but also' is the correct choice to emphasize that both ideas are true (he is a good student AND a hard worker).

This is false. Correlative conjunctions must be used in their fixed pairs. 'Both' must be paired with 'and,' and 'nor' must be paired with 'neither.'

The 'neither/nor' pair is correctly placed to link two equal adjectives ('kind' and 'generous'), ensuring parallel structure is maintained.

The pair 'both/and' is the most direct way to show that two subjects ('the teacher' and 'the students') were equally included in the action of being ready.

The phrase suggests that one quality is true, and the second quality is also true, often for emphasis. The 'not only/but also' pair is used for emphasis and addition.

The pair 'neither/nor' is required to show a double negation, meaning she will not purchase the blue sweater and she will not purchase the green one.

The pair 'both/and' is used to show addition, meaning the speaker saw both lions and tigers at the zoo.

Both A ('either/or') and C ('whether/or') present two alternatives, requiring a choice or indicating that one of the two possibilities is happening.

All four pairs can be grammatically correct depending on the desired meaning: negation (A), addition (B), choice (C), or emphasis/addition (D).

When expressing doubt or uncertainty, especially after a verb like 'unsure' or 'decide,' the 'whether/or' pair is the most appropriate correlative conjunction.

This statement is false in this simple example. In cases where the correlative pair joins two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (the last one mentioned). However, here the pair joins two objects, so the rule doesn't apply.

The pair 'neither/nor' is required to show that neither option (a quick walk nor a full meal) is possible due to the lack of time.

The pair 'both/and' is the best fit because it shows addition, indicating that two people ('my brother' and 'I') share the same preference for basketball.

All four pairs are correlative conjunctions and can be used to join two nouns (or any grammatically equal elements) in parallel structure, depending on the desired meaning (addition, double negation, or choice/doubt).

The 'not only/but also' pair is used to emphasize that the museum offers two separate, yet important, features: history and art.

Only sentence A requires the conjunctions to be placed before two verbs ('studied' and 'completed') to link them together in a parallel structure.