Chapter LXVIII: Coördinate Conjunctions

=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.