SECTION 9 — CONJUNCTIONS & SENTENCE STRUCTURE (Concepts 112–122)

112. "Not only...but also" must be followed by parallel grammatical structures

• Wrong: She is not only intelligent but also she works hard.
• Fix: She is not only intelligent but also hardworking.
• Wrong: He not only manages the branch but also he trains new recruits.
• Fix: He not only manages the branch but also trains new recruits.
• Wrong: The scheme not only reduces the fees but also it improves accessibility.
• Fix: The scheme not only reduces the fees but also improves accessibility.

113. "Although/though" should not be paired with "but" in the same sentence

• Wrong: Although he was tired, but he continued working.
• Fix: Although he was tired, he continued working.
• Wrong: Though the exam was difficult, but most students cleared it.
• Fix: Though the exam was difficult, most students cleared it.
• Wrong: Although the office was short-staffed, but the work was completed on time.
• Fix: Although the office was short-staffed, the work was completed on time.

114. "Because/since/as" should not be paired with "so" in the same sentence

• Wrong: Because it was raining, so we cancelled the picnic.
• Fix: Because it was raining, we cancelled the picnic.
• Wrong: Since the office was closed, so the files remained unprocessed.
• Fix: Since the office was closed, the files remained unprocessed.
• Wrong: As the connection was weak, so the video call kept dropping.
• Fix: As the connection was weak, the video call kept dropping. Why this happens: both halves of these paired conjunctions logically point to a cause-and-effect relationship, so a writer feels like both signal words are needed to make the link explicit — but in standard English, one connector already carries the entire relationship; using both is treated as redundant, not extra-clear.

115. "As soon as," "no sooner...than," "hardly/scarcely...when" — fixed pairings

• Wrong: No sooner did he arrive when the meeting started.
• Fix: No sooner did he arrive than the meeting started.
• Wrong: Hardly had she sat down than the phone rang.
• Fix: Hardly had she sat down when the phone rang.
• Wrong: Scarcely had the train left than the announcement was made.
• Fix: Scarcely had the train left when the announcement was made.

116. "Either...or" and "neither...nor" must introduce parallel elements

• Wrong: He neither likes tea nor he likes coffee.
• Fix: He likes neither tea nor coffee.
• Wrong: She will either join the workshop or she will attend the seminar.
• Fix: She will either join the workshop or attend the seminar.
• Wrong: The delay was caused neither by the vendor nor it was caused by the courier.
• Fix: The delay was caused neither by the vendor nor by the courier.

117. Correlative conjunctions "both...and" require parallel structure

• Wrong: She is both talented and she is disciplined.
• Fix: She is both talented and disciplined.
• Wrong: The scheme benefits both farmers and it benefits traders.
• Fix: The scheme benefits both farmers and traders.
• Wrong: He is both a good manager and he is a fair one.
• Fix: He is both a good manager and a fair one.

118. Dangling modifiers: the introductory phrase must logically refer to the subject that immediately follows it

• Wrong: Having finished the report, the meeting was cancelled.
• Fix: Having finished the report, she learned that the meeting was cancelled.
• Wrong: Walking into the office, the files were already on the desk.
• Fix: Walking into the office, he found the files already on the desk.
• Wrong: After checking the accounts twice, the error still remained unexplained.
• Fix: After checking the accounts twice, the auditor still could not explain the error. Why this happens: the introductory "-ing" phrase is understood to describe whoever performs the main clause's action, but if the main clause's subject is a thing (the meeting, the files) rather than a person, the sentence accidentally claims that thing performed the action — logically absurd, even though the grammar "reads" smoothly.

119. Parallelism in a list: all items joined by "and"/"or" must share the same grammatical form

• Wrong: The job requires punctuality, discipline, and to communicate well.
• Fix: The job requires punctuality, discipline, and good communication.
• Wrong: Her duties include filing reports, answering calls, and to schedule meetings.
• Fix: Her duties include filing reports, answering calls, and scheduling meetings.
• Wrong: He likes reading, travelling, and to cook on weekends.
• Fix: He likes reading, travelling, and cooking on weekends.

120. "So...that" and "such...that" for result clauses — "so" pairs with an adjective/adverb, "such" pairs with a noun

• Wrong: It was such hot day that the match had to be postponed.
• Fix: It was such a hot day that the match had to be postponed.
• Wrong: He was so a tired that he fell asleep during the meeting.
• Fix: He was so tired that he fell asleep during the meeting.
• Wrong: It was so a difficult question that no one attempted it.
• Fix: It was such a difficult question that no one attempted it.

121. Subordinate clauses beginning with "that," "which," "who," etc. must be placed as close as possible to the noun they describe, to avoid ambiguity

• Wrong: He gave the file to the clerk that was lying on the table.
• Fix: He gave the clerk the file that was lying on the table.
• Wrong: She returned the book to the librarian which was overdue.
• Fix: She returned the overdue book to the librarian.
• Wrong: He handed the cheque to the customer that had bounced earlier.
• Fix: He handed the customer the cheque that had bounced earlier.

122. A sentence should not mix two different subordinating strategies for the same idea, such as using both a subordinator and a coordinator to link the same two clauses

• Wrong: While he was aware of the rules, yet he broke them.
• Fix: While he was aware of the rules, he broke them.
• Wrong: Even though she apologised, but he remained upset.
• Fix: Even though she apologised, he remained upset.
• Wrong: Whereas the team worked hard, yet they lost the tournament.
• Fix: Whereas the team worked hard, they lost the tournament.

Mini Practice — Section 9

1. Although the manager approved the leave, but the HR department delayed it.
2. He is both a good speaker and he writes well.
3. No sooner had the results declared when celebrations began.
4. Having completed the audit, the report was submitted by the team.
5. The scheme requires proof of income, address, and to submit two photographs.
6. Since the printer was jammed, so the forms could not be printed.
7. She likes neither travelling nor she likes trekking.
8. It was such a big crowd that entry had to be restricted.
9. He handed the receipt to the customer that was torn at the corner.
10. Even though he was warned twice, yet he repeated the mistake.

Answer Key

1. Remove "but" (although/but cannot be paired)
2. "he writes well" → "a good writer" (parallel structure)
3. "when" → "than" (no sooner...than)
4. Dangling modifier — Fix: "Having completed the audit, the team submitted the report."
5. "to submit two photographs" → "two photographs" (parallel list)
6. Remove "so" (since/so cannot be paired)
7. "she likes trekking" → "trekking" (parallel structure after "neither...nor")
8. Correct as written — "such...that" correctly pairs with the noun "crowd"
9. "the customer that was torn" → "the customer the receipt that was torn" (misplaced clause)
10. Remove "yet" (even though/yet cannot be paired)

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