Coordination and

Parallel Structure
Coordinating Conjunctions:

and, but, so or, nor, yet, for

Correlative, or paired conjunctions:

both…and, not only…but also, either…or,

neither…nor
Coordinating and correlative conjunctions join:
Words
 Mais and Yuri fled the war in Armenia.
 The book is neither well written nor interesting.

Phrases
 They are glad to be in the United States but are still
homesick.
 Both students who won awards and the teachers who
taught them were at the awards ceremony.
Clauses
 If you have a 4.0 GPA and if you graduate on time, many
good companies will hire you.
 They had to flee their country, for they had no future
there.
Use a comma when two independent clauses
are joined by a coordinating or correlative
conjunction.

 Students write during class time, and they

also write at home.

 Notonly is he a good student, but he is also a

nice person.
Do not use a comma when two phrases or
words are joined.

 Computer scientists and engineers need to be

good writers.

 Both lunch and dinner will be served.

 Neither
the campus bookstore nor the
downtown bookstore has good prices.
The subject closer to the verb determines if
the verb is singular or plural in sentences
with correlative conjunctions.

 Notonly my best friend but my parents are

also here.

 Notonly my parents but my best friend is

also here.
Do not join coordinating conjunctions with
other conjunctions within the same
sentence.

Incorrect
 Although he got a B on test, but he is still
not happy.

Correct
 He got a B on the test, but he is still not
happy.
 Each coordinating
conjunction has a different
use.
Use and to add information.

 We are going to write essays and read many

articles in this class.
Use but to show contrast.

 We will work hard, but it will be fun to learn

a lot.
Use or to give a choice.

 Thefirst assignment will be a narrative or an

argumentative essay.
Use yet to show contrast.

 Theteacher is a hard grader, yet her scores

are always fair.
Use so to show a result.

 She
got A grades on all of her work, so she
hopes to get an A in the class.
Use for to show a reason.

 Hewill pass the class, for he worked hard

and got good grades.

Note: The conjunction for means because, but it is

not used very often to express this meaning. The
preferred connector is because.
Use both…and or not only…but also to add
emphasis.

 Both solar and wind energy are alternatives

to oil and coal.

 Computerhackers not only slow business but

also damage computer systems.
Use neither…nor to emphasize both are
negative.

 Neither students nor teachers look forward

to the start of the school year.
Use either…or to express choice.

 Hewants a computer made by either Dell or

IBM.
Correct the errors in coordination.
1. We worked all night, so we didn’t meet
our deadline.
2. I finished the coffee, it was bitter.
3. My group worked hard, that we finished
the project early.
4. The food tasted bad but we still ate it.
5. Neither my sister nor my friends is here.
When joining words, phrases,
or clauses with coordinating
conjunctions, they must be
parallel or the same
grammatical structure.
Nouns:

 Russiancosmonauts, American astronauts,

and private citizens are now in the
International Space Station.
Adjectives:

Their experiments are expensive but important

for advancing our knowledge.
Infinitives:

The astronauts try to exercise or to work out

on a treadmill every day while they are in
space.
Gerunds:

Working, eating, and sleeping in such a small

space require cooperation.
Prepositional Phrases:

The results of the experiments will be used in

many industries, on numerous advances, and
for years to come.
Clauses:

Astronauts train for emergencies, but they

rarely have to use this information.
Note:
When you write more than two parallel items,
use commas to separate them. The comma
before the conjunction is optional but often
preferred in academic writing.

It is difficult to work, study, and take care of

small children at the same time.
Words, phrases, or clauses must be parallel
when they are joined by not only…but
also, both…and, either…or, or
neither…nor.
 Not only ranchers but also farmers are
affected by government policies.
 Both Jenny and Judy play water polo.
 We will either see a movie or go out to
dinner tonight.
 My son was neither anxious nor upset at
the dentist’s office.
Not only…but also
Regular word order: Debbie not only likes
to swim, but she also likes to run.
Inverted word order: Not only does Debbie
like to swim, but she also likes to run.
Regular word order: There is not only a test
tomorrow, but there is also an essay due.
Inverted word order: Not only is there a
test tomorrow, but there is also an essay
due.
Correct the errors in parallel structure.
1. Vicki improved her writing by learning
grammar rules, and she edits carefully.
2. Ms. Lee is searching for a new job and
moves to a new house at the same time.
3. My best friend is good at listening,
solving problems, and he always gives
good advice.
4. My roommate was neither anxious nor
relaxing before her exams.
5. I will either study painting or sculpture.
 Sumber:
staffwww.fullcoll.edu/jcain/Grammar%20Slid
es/Coordination%20Parallel.ppt