Paralel Contruction

BOTH ________ AND         
NOT ONLY ______ BUT ALSO
EITHER ________ OR
NEITHER _______ AND

The paired conjunctions above can be used to combine two sentences

which are parallel. To combine the sentences using the paired

conjunctions above, It is necessary to see the following rules:

1. Two subject connected by BOTH _____ AND take a plural verb

            Examples: - Both my brother and my sister are here.

                                  - Both of us know him

                                  - Both doors were open

2. When subjects are connected by not only_____but also, either _____ or, and neither _______ nor. The subject that is closer to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

            Examples: - Not only my sister but also my parents are here.

                                  - Neither my mother  nor my sister is  here.

                                  - Neither my sister nor my parents are here.

3. Notice that the parallel structure in the examples. The same grammatical form should follow each word of the pair.

            Examples: - The research project will take both time and money

                                                                                          N             N

                                  - Yesterday it not only rained but also snowed

                                                                         V                    V