Either… or, not only… but also

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • paired conjunctions

Paired conjunctions: both… and, either… or, neither… nor and not only… but also. The farmhouse is not only cheaper but also closer, and we could go either in June or in July. The student hears a mom's voice message about two vacation places, chooses the pairs, matches the verbs, fixes the usual mistakes, and finds out what they and their teacher have in common.

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either … ornot only … but alsoneither … norboth … and

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Listen: Mom's messageListening comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the pairsGrammar exercise
  6. 6both… and, either… or, neither… nor, not only… but alsoGrammar rule
  7. 7Choose the pairGrammar exercise
  8. 8Which form?Grammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12What we have in commonSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: which sentence is correct?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: my reviewDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Where did your family usually go on vacation when you were a child?
  2. Who makes the big decisions in your family?
  3. Have you ever had to choose between two places to live, or two jobs? How did you decide?

Grammar rule

both… and, either… or, neither… nor, not only… but also

A paired conjunction joins two parts of the same kind: two nouns, two adjectives, two verbs or two time phrases.

PairMeaningExample
both … andthe two togetherOur new neighbors are both friendly and quiet.
either … orone of the two (you choose, or we don't know which)The meeting is either on Monday or on Tuesday.
neither … nornot one and not the otherThe soup was neither hot nor tasty.
not only … but alsoone thing, and another one too (often a surprising one)He not only painted the fence but also fixed the gate.

Where they go

Put the first word right before the first part, and make the two parts match: either in June or in July · both cheaper and closer · not only sings but also dances.

The verb after two subjects

  • both … and → a plural verb: Both Spanish and Portuguese are spoken in our office.
  • either … or, neither … nor → the verb agrees with the nearer subject: Neither the teacher nor the students were ready. (With two singular subjects, careful English uses a singular verb: Neither my mom nor my dad is home. You will also hear a plural in conversation.)

Watch out

  • neither … nor is already negative, so don't add not: I don't eat neither meat nor fish. → I eat neither meat nor fish. (Or: I don't eat either meat or fish.)
  • Keep the pairs together: both … and (not or), either … or (not nor), neither … nor (in careful English, not or).
  • In not only … but also, also can be left out or moved: She not only sings but (also) dances. / She not only sings, but she also dances. / … but she dances too. In this lesson, not only stays in the middle of the sentence.
  • both … and is for two things. For three or more, use and: Mom, Dad and Grandma.

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