English grammar

275. We have learned that such words as and, but, and or are conjunctions. Their use is merely to join, and they may join either words, phrases, or clauses. Since they join like elements,—a word to a word, a phrase to a phrase, a clause to a clause, a sentence to a sentence, we call them coördinate conjunctions.

276. In the sentence, “Either the well was very deep or she fell very slowly,” the coördinate conjunction or, which joins two sentences, is preceded by the word either, which hints that or is coming. When either and or are used in this way, they are called correlatives; that is, they are words related to each other. Other correlatives are neither, nor; not only, but; both, and. It is always the second word of these pairs that does the joining. The first merely tells the listener or reader what sort of sentence is to follow.

Note.—Frequently a coördinate conjunction has another word going with it to change or emphasize its meaning. In the sentence, “He is rich and yet he is not generous,” the word yet going with and changes its meaning to but. In the sentence, “He is poor, but still he is generous,” the word still reinforces the meaning of but. Such a word associated with a conjunction may be said to be a part of the conjunction, that is, the two words together do the joining. In the same way the two words not only form the correlative of but or but also; as, “He is not only a teacher but also a student.” What does but also join here?

Summary.—A coördinate conjunction is one that joins like elements. It is sometimes more than one word.

Correlative coördinate conjunctions are pairs of words, the second of which does the joining.

Exercise.—When we parse a coördinate conjunction we tell its class and what it joins. If it has a correlative, we state that fact. Parse the coördinate conjunctions in the following sentences:—

1. The writer who professes to care nothing for fame is probably deceiving himself, or else his liver is out of order.

2. Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang, and got very mellow.

3. There was neither dust nor mud nor noise to annoy one.

4. The mahogany arm chair is very handsome, and the green plush rocker is very comfortable, but still I choose this little chair with the flowers painted on the back, that mother gave to me when I was only five.

5. On its southern side is an elevated walk, or terrace, very broad and handsome, and about half a mile long.

Note.—In the preceding sentence, try to discover under what circumstances an appositive is joined to the word it explains by or. Notice the punctuation. Make other sentences illustrating this use of or.

6. The road to Paradise is rough and thorny.

7. His chief amusements were gunning and fishing, or sauntering along the beach and through the myrtles.

8. Neither hare nor grouse was stirring in the brushy opens.

9. You know Mary always bangs things when she is cross, but I never could see what good it does.

10. When the two children went down to the river to play, they not only disobeyed their mothers, but they also ran away from school.

11. I never looked either neat or clean, though I had my daily bath and a generous allowance of clothes.

12. Over the tree tops and from the open spaces in the wood could be seen the first pallor of approaching day.

13. In deep snow the moose can neither flee nor fight.

14. They always put Mammy Tittleback in the carriage too; but before they had carried her far, she generally jumped out, and walked the rest of the way by their side.

15. These Spaniards wished to build ships and to get away; but they had neither knowledge nor tools nor iron nor forge nor tow nor resin nor rigging.

16.

He prayeth best who loveth best

All things both great and small.

Tell the part of speech and use of himself, sentence 1, high, low 2, mellow 2, when 4, neat 11, allowance 11, pallor 12.