Correlative Conjunctions Quiz (Level B1-B2) - Grammar Practice

⏱ Time: 07:30 📝 Questions: 15 📊 Level: B1, B2 📚 Type: Grammar ⭐ XP: up to +16 (on pass)

Review Correlative Conjunctions with 15 practice exercises at Level B1-B2. Each question comes with a detailed explanation to reinforce what you already know and fill in any gaps. Add this to your daily study routine — just 7 minutes to stay sharp.

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: She is ___ a talented singer or a gifted dancer — everyone agrees she is extraordinary.

Question 1 options
'Either' is correct because 'either...or' is the correlative conjunction pair used to present two alternatives. 'Neither' pairs with 'nor', 'both' pairs with 'and', and 'whether' pairs with 'or' in indirect questions — none of these fit the positive alternative structure here.
Q2 15

Question 2: The new policy affects ___ the managers and the employees in every department.

Question 2 options
'Both' is correct because 'both...and' is the correlative conjunction pair used to include two elements together. 'Either' pairs with 'or', 'neither' pairs with 'nor', and 'not only' pairs with 'but also' — none of these match the conjunction 'and' that follows.
Q3 15

Question 3: Correlative conjunctions always appear in pairs, with one part at the beginning of the first element and the other part before the second element.

Question 3 options
True because correlative conjunctions are defined as pairs (e.g. 'either...or', 'both...and') that work together to connect two parallel elements in a sentence — each part introduces one of the two linked elements.
Q4 15

Question 4: Which situation correctly uses the correlative conjunction 'neither...nor'?

Question 4 options
'Neither...nor' is used to join two negative alternatives, meaning both options are excluded. It does not express a positive choice, an inclusive pair, or a condition — those functions belong to 'either...or', 'both...and', and 'whether...or' respectively.
Q5 15

Question 5: Arrange the words to make a correct sentence:

Question 5 options
  • but also
  • not only cleaned the kitchen
  • He
  • cooked dinner

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'He not only cleaned the kitchen but also cooked dinner' because 'not only...but also' is a correlative conjunction pair where 'not only' precedes the first action and 'but also' precedes the second parallel action.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence uses a correlative conjunction correctly?

Question 6 options
'Neither the director nor the producer attended the meeting' is correct because 'neither...nor' properly pairs two negative subjects. 'Either...and' is incorrect because 'either' must pair with 'or'. 'Both...or' is wrong because 'both' must pair with 'and'. 'Not only...but' without 'also' is grammatically incomplete as a paired structure in formal use.
Q7 15

Question 7: Two colleagues are discussing a new project. Anna says: 'We need to decide on the budget.' Ben replies: 'We should talk to ___ the finance team or the project manager before we decide anything.'

Question 7 options
'Either' is correct because Ben is presenting two specific alternatives to consider, which requires 'either...or'. 'Neither' would mean both options are excluded. 'Both' would require 'and' instead of 'or'. 'Whether' is used for indirect questions, not direct suggestions.
Q8 15

Question 8: Which sentence correctly uses 'not only...but also' rather than 'both...and'?

Question 8 options
'Not only...but also' adds emphasis by introducing a surprising or additional element, making it stronger than a simple list. 'Not only did she win the race, but she also broke the record' correctly uses this emphatic pair. The other options incorrectly mix up the pairs or use 'both...and' where emphasis on a surprising addition is needed.
Q9 15

Question 9: Put the words in the correct order:

Question 9 options
  • whether
  • I don't know
  • we should leave
  • or stay

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'I don't know whether we should leave or stay' because 'whether...or' is a correlative conjunction pair used in indirect questions, with 'whether' introducing the clause and 'or' connecting the two options.
Q10 15

Question 10: The sales figures were disappointing. The manager said the problem was ___ poor advertising ___ a lack of customer interest.

Question 10 options
'Both...and' is correct because the sentence lists two problems that both contributed, requiring the inclusive pair 'both...and'. 'Either...or' suggests only one is the cause. 'Neither...nor' would mean neither was the problem. 'Not only...but also' is emphatic and requires a different sentence structure.
Q11 15

Question 11: Which statement about subject-verb agreement with correlative conjunctions is true?

Question 11 options
When 'either...or' or 'neither...nor' connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (the proximity rule). This means 'Neither the students nor the teacher was ready' is correct, not 'were ready', because 'teacher' is singular and closest to the verb.
Q12 15

Question 12: Original: 'The trip was long and also very expensive.' → Rewrite using 'not only...but also': 'The trip was ___.'

Question 12 options
'not only long but also very expensive' correctly transforms the sentence using the 'not only...but also' structure, maintaining parallel adjective phrases. The other options break parallelism by mixing different word forms or misplace the conjunction parts.
Q13 15

Question 13: Match each sentence to the correct grammar label.

Question 13 options
You can pay either by card or by cash.
Neither the food nor the service was good at that restaurant.
Both the food and the service were excellent last night.
I'm not sure whether to apply for the job or wait for a better offer.
Two negative alternatives (neither...nor)
Two positive alternatives (either...or)
Two elements included together (both...and)
Indirect question with two options (whether...or)

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'Either...or' expresses two positive alternatives; 'neither...nor' expresses two negative alternatives; 'both...and' includes two elements together; 'whether...or' introduces an indirect question with two options.
Q14 15

Question 14: When 'not only...but also' is used at the start of a sentence with inverted word order, it is always informal and should be avoided in professional writing.

Question 14 options
False because inverted 'not only' at the start of a sentence (e.g. 'Not only did she finish early, but she also helped others') is actually a formal, emphatic structure commonly used in professional and academic writing to add strong emphasis.
Q15 15

Question 15: Which sentence best expresses that one of two options will happen, with an element of emphasis on a surprising addition?

Question 15 options
'Not only will the conference be held online, but it will also be available on demand afterwards' uses 'not only...but also' to add emphatic surprise about the second benefit. 'Either...or' only presents a simple choice, 'both...and' neutrally lists two facts, and 'whether...or' introduces a condition — none carry the same emphatic meaning.