Relationships between ideas -1
 Parallel structure: the use of a conjunction to
connect words/phrases that have the same
grammatical function in a sentence – and,
but, or, nor
 Noun + and + noun: Steve and his friend are
coming to dinner.
 Verb + and + verb: Susan raised her hands
and snapped her fingers.
Relationships between ideas - 1
 Adjective + but + adjective: These shoes are
old but comfortable.
 Infinitive + or + infinitive: He wants to
watch TV or to listen to some music.
 A parallel structure may contain more than
two parts: Steve, Joe and Alice are coming
to dinner.
Relationships between ideas - 1
 Paired conjunctions: both…and; not only…but also;
either…or; neither…nor
 Two subjects connected by both…and take a
plural verb: Both my mother and my sister are
here.
 Two subjects connected by not only…but also,
either…or, neither…nor can take a singular or
plural verb, depending on the subject that is closer
to the verb
Relationships between ideas - 1





Not only my mother but also my sister is here.
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.
These conjunctions must be used with parallel parts
of speech: not only + verb + but also +
verb(Yesterday it not only rained but (also)
snowed).
 Neither + adjective + nor + adjective(That book is
neither interesting nor accurate).
Relationships between ideas - 1
 Adverb clauses = dependent clauses (cannot
stand alone in a sentence). It must be
connected to an independent clause.
 Summary list of words used to introduce
adverb clauses ( after, before, because, since,
although, while, etc) can be read on page
297, Azar, Understanding and Using English
Grammar, 2nd edition.