Correlatives
Correlatives
Correlatives
The conjunctions which are generally used in pairs, such as: either…….. or, neither ………. nor, both ……. and etc. are called Correlatives. In other words, to say, paired connective words are called Correlatives. Let us discuss the use of some correlatives as under:
Correlatives
Use of ‘Either ……. or’
It is used to denote any one of two nouns or pronouns. It is positive in sense. If the number of the noun or pronoun connected by ‘either ………….. or’ is singular then the verb becomes singular. And if one of the nouns or pronouns is plural then the plural noun or pronoun takes place near the verb and the verb becomes plural. For example:
Either Radha or his friend is wicked.
Either Rekha or her sister is guilty.
Either Lalit or Reba is good.
Either the students or the teachers are responsible for the quarrel.
Correlatives
Use of ‘Neither …….. nor’
It denotes none of the two. It takes a singular verb. But if it connects more than two nouns or pronouns then the plural noun or pronoun takes place near the verb and the verb becomes plural. Examples :
Neither you nor your brother is guilty.
Neither Rajen nor his friend is dishonest.
Neither the father nor his sons have agreed to go.
Correlatives
Use of ‘Both …….. and’
This correlative is used to connect two singular nouns or pronouns. It takes a plural number. Examples,
Both Lalita and Babita are good girls.
Both he and she are honest.
Both the father and the sons are famous orators.
Haren and Mrigen both are friendly.
Correlatives
Use of ‘No less …………. than’
It is used to compare an aspect or quality of a thing with that of another thing of the same kind. Examples:
William is no less wise than Charles.
Jasmina is no less intelligent than Sabina.
Tiger is no less ferocious than lion.
Correlatives
Use of ‘No sooner ……. than’
After ‘No sooner’ and before the subject word usually ‘had’ is used and after ‘than’ the past tense is used. Examples:
No sooner had he seen the lion than he ran off.
No sooner had he heard the news, than he wept.
No sooner did the teacher come, than the student began to run.
Note: When a sentence begins with a cor-relative, negative in meaning, some helping verb must be used before its subject. If there is no helping verb, some suitable form of ‘Do’ verb must be applied.
Correlatives
Use of Whether ………. or
‘Whether ………. or’ is used to express doubt in some action. It is almost negative in sense.
I do not know whether he will go or not.
Ram asked me whether I had prepared my lesson or not.
We report speeches whether ours or someone else’s.
Correlatives
Use of ‘Not only ……. but also’
This correlative is used to express two aspects of a thing. It implies an affirmative sense. Examples :
Deepika is not only honest but also intelligent.
They are not only good players but also good students.
He is not only a musician but also a singer.
Correlatives
Use of ‘scarcely (hardly) ……. before (when)’
Both ‘Hardly’ and ‘Scarcely’ are negative in meaning. In a sentence using ‘Scarcely’ or ‘hardly’ the auxiliary verb in past form is generally used before the subject. Examples :
Scarcely did he hear the news, before he wept aloud.
Hardly did he hear the news, when he wept aloud.
Correlatives
Use of ‘So ………….. that’
Examples :
He is so weak that he cannot move.
She is so honest that nobody dislikes her.
He was so lazy that he could not attend the class on time.
Correlatives
Use of ‘Other …….. than’
This correlative is used to indicate the same thing. Examples:
He is no other than my cousin.
The gentleman is no other than our President.
Correlatives
Use of ‘As …………. so
Examples:
As you do, so will you get.
As you sow, so will you reap.
As you read, so will you learn.
Correlatives
Use of ‘As ………….. as’
This correlative is used to compare two things or objects of the same kind. It Implies that two things have the same degree of quality. It is positive in sense. Examples :
I am as strong as you are.
He was as honest as his father was.
I am as voracious a reader as Johnson was.
Correlatives
Use of ‘Rather …………. than’
Examples:
I would rather die than steal.
He would rather beg than die.
It is rather fictitious than real.
Correlatives
Use of ‘Such …………. as’
This correlative is positive in a sense. It implies that a thing is as it is wished to be. Examples :
He gave me such a pen as I needed.
Karishma wanted such a thing as Lalita had.
I gave such an answer as required.
Such people as these are trustworthy.
Correlatives
Use of ‘Though …………… yet’
This correlative implies the meaning of ‘in spite of’. Examples :
Though he is poor, yet he is happy.
Though we have much, yet we want more.
Correlatives
Use of ‘The same ……. that’
Examples :
This is the same pen that was lost yesterday.
He was the same boy that was clever.
Use of ‘The same ………. as’
Correlatives
Examples :
This is the same pen as that.
It is the same book as Ram’s.
Correlatives
EXERCISE
Correlatives
1. Fill in the blanks with suitable correlatives:
(i) Kabin is not ……………… smart as Babin. (ii) Hiren is ……honest as Kamal is. (iii) He is …………… idle but also wicked. (iv) ………. you …………….. your cousin has done this. (v) I don’t know whether he will do this …… not. (vi) Lalita is so tall ……….. you are. (vii) Father and son ………. are famous artists. (viii) I don’t care ……… you support me ……… not. (ix) ………. had the bell rang ……… the students came out. (x) I am not ………. happy ………. you are. (xi) Though he is poor,……………. he is happy. (xii) ………… Kanak and his brother did the work to win the race. (xiii) Hardly had he known the matter ………. he wept aloud. (xiv) Scarcely had he heard the report …………. he cried aloud. (xv) He is no other ……….. my brother.
2. Combine into a single sentence by using the correlative given in brackets:
(i) He must be a fool. He must be a ruffian. (Either …….. or) (ii) He is not wicked. He is not shrewd. (neither ……… nor) (iii) He is good. His sister is equally good. (as…….. as) (iv) Nandita is intelligent. Nandita is shrewd. (not only …………. but also) (v)He is very weak. He can hardly move. (so …….. that) (vi) He gave such an answer. It was required. (such ……. as) (vii) We read. We may pass (so……….. that) (viii) You did not go there. Your friend did not go there. (neither …………….. nor) (ix) Ranjan is rich. He is kind. (though ……….. yet) (x) I am happy. You are happy. (as ……….. as)
3. Rewrite the following sentences by using ‘’No sooner ………… than”:
(i) As soon as she read the telegrams, he fainted. (ii)He saw the lion. He at once climbed up the tree. (iii)As soon as I came,the man ran away. (iv)As soon as the teacher came, the students stood up. (v)As soon as it began to rain, we took shelter in a shop.
4. Combine into a single sentence by using ‘not only….. but also’:
(i) We visited Tripura. We also visited Arunachal Pradesh. (ii) He is honest. He is also sincere. (iii) He is healthy. He is also wealthy. (iv) Farhad is clever. He is intelligent. ( v) The old man is deaf. He is also dumb.
5. Combine into a single sentence by using correlative given in brackets:
(i) He cared for the sick. He cared for the wounded. (both ….. and) (ii) You may put the book on the table. You may put the book on the desk. (Either …………. or) (iii) He saw the bear. He climbed up the tree. (No sooner ……. than) (iv) Suman is intelligent. Suman is honest. (Not only ……….. but also) (v) Hari is kind. Hari is honest. (Though…….. yet) (vi) You may have a mango. You may have an apple. (Either …….. or). 0 0 0
Correlatives
N.B. The article ‘Correlatives’ originally belongs to the book ‘School English Grammar Part- I‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Composition by M. Menonimus:
- Advertisement Writing
- Amplification Writing
- Note Making
- Paragraph Writing
- Notice Writing
- Passage Comprehension
- The Art of Poster Writing
- The Art of Letter Writing
- Report Writing
- Story Writing
- Substance Writing
- School Essays Part-I
- School Essays Part-II
- School English Grammar Part-I
- School English Grammar Part-II..
Books on Linguistics by M. Menonimus:
- A Brief History of the English Language
- Essays on Linguistics
- My Imageries
- Felicitous Expression: Some Examples
- Learners’ English Dictionary
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