🔍 Detailed Explanation of Fill in the Missing Correlative Conjunction

When you learn English in Year 6 as part of the National Curriculum, you will discover how important conjunctions are for joining ideas together in sentences. One special type of conjunctions is called correlative conjunctions. These are pairs of words that always work together to connect equal parts of a sentence, such as two nouns, verbs, or clauses.

📚 What are Correlative Conjunctions?

Correlative conjunctions come in pairs. They help make your sentences clear and interesting by showing relationships between ideas. Some common pairs you will meet are:

  • either … or
  • neither … nor
  • both … and
  • not only … but also

For example:

  • You can either have tea or coffee.
  • She is both kind and funny.

🔎 How to Identify Missing Correlative Conjunctions

Sometimes, in exercises or sentences, one part of the correlative pair is missing. To identify where a correlative conjunction is missing, you can follow these steps:

  1. Look for pairs: Check if there is one word from the pair in the sentence.
  2. Check the meaning: Decide what the sentence is trying to show—options, negatives, or additions.
  3. Find a gap: When there is a connection between two parts but only one word is present, the missing partner is needed.

For example, in the sentence:

  • She is not only smart ___ she is also hardworking.

You can see “not only” at the start, so you need “but also” to complete the sentence:
She is not only smart but also hardworking.

✍️ How to Fill in the Missing Correlative Conjunction

To fill in missing correlative conjunctions:

  1. Read the sentence carefully.
  2. Identify which correlative conjunction belongs with the word already there.
  3. Insert the missing word or phrase to make the sentence complete and correct.

Let’s try a few examples:

  • You can have ___ tea ___ coffee.
    The pair here is either … or. So, fill in:
    You can have either tea or coffee.
  • ___ the boys ___ the girls won the competition.
    This needs either … or or neither … nor depending on meaning.
    If no one won, fill in:
    Neither the boys nor the girls won the competition.

💡 Why Are Correlative Conjunctions Important?

The National Curriculum highlights that by Year 6, you should be able to use a wide range of conjunctions accurately to write complex sentences. Correlative conjunctions are useful for making your writing clearer and more exciting by showing choices, adding information, or contrasting ideas.

🎯 Top Tips for Mastering Correlative Conjunctions

  • Always remember correlative conjunctions come in pairs and both parts are needed.
  • Think about the meaning before choosing the pair.
  • Practice with sentences where one is missing and try filling gaps.
  • Read your sentences aloud to hear if they sound complete.

By practising these steps, you will become confident in identifying and filling in missing correlative conjunctions. This will help your writing in English to be clearer and more effective! ✍️

📝 10 Examination-Style 1-Mark Questions with 1-Word Answer on Fill in the Missing Correlative Conjunction

  1. You can have __________ tea __________ coffee.
  2. __________ you study hard, __________ you will fail the test.
  3. She is __________ tall __________ short for her age.
  4. We will either go to the park __________ stay at home.
  5. He is not only smart __________ also very kind.
  6. You must __________ finish your homework __________ do your chores.
  7. They wanted to play outside __________ it was raining.
  8. I will buy __________ the red dress __________ the blue one.
  9. __________ the cat __________ the dog is sleeping in the garden.
  10. You can have __________ cake __________ ice cream for dessert.

🧠 10 Examination-Style 2-Mark Questions with 1-Sentence Answer on Fill in the Missing Correlative Conjunction

  1. I want to eat _______ pizza _______ burgers for dinner.
    Answer: either … or
    Explanation: “Either … or” is used to show a choice between two options.
  2. She is _______ smart _______ kind to everyone she meets.
    Answer: both … and
    Explanation: “Both … and” connects two qualities happening together.
  3. You can have _______ tea _______ coffee with your breakfast.
    Answer: either … or
    Explanation: “Either … or” offers two alternatives to choose from.
  4. He not only plays football _______ also enjoys basketball.
    Answer: but
    Explanation: “Not only … but” shows that two things are true.
  5. I will go to the park _______ if it rains.
    Answer: even if
    Explanation: “Even if” introduces a condition that doesn’t change the outcome.
  6. _______ the cat _______ the dog likes to sleep on the sofa.
    Answer: Neither … nor
    Explanation: “Neither … nor” shows that two things are not true.
  7. You can have _______ chocolate ice cream _______ vanilla ice cream.
    Answer: either … or
    Explanation: “Either … or” is used to give a choice between two options.
  8. She was not just tired _______ also very hungry after school.
    Answer: but
    Explanation: “Not just … but” adds information about the person’s state.
  9. I will visit Aunt Mary _______ I finish my homework.
    Answer: after
    Explanation: “After” shows the order of events.
  10. We can go to the beach _______ stay at home if it rains.
    Answer: or
    Explanation: “Or” gives a choice between two possibilities.

📝 10 Examination-Style 4-Mark Questions with 6-Sentence Answers on Fill in the Missing Correlative Conjunction

Here are 10 exam-style questions for Year 6 students that focus on filling in the missing correlative conjunctions. Each question requires the student to write a detailed 6-sentence answer explaining their choice.

Question 1

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“They can either go to the park ___ stay at home.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The missing correlative conjunction is “or.” Correlative conjunctions always work in pairs to join two parts of a sentence. In this sentence, “either” is already given, so the matching word is “or.” The sentence presents two choices: going to the park or staying at home. The conjunction “or” shows these options clearly. Therefore, the correct phrase is “either…or.”

Question 2

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“She is ___ talented ___ hardworking.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The correct correlative conjunction pair is “both…and.” Correlative conjunctions always come in pairs to link equal sentence parts. “Both…and” adds two qualities together, showing the person has two good traits. Here, “talented” and “hardworking” are joined to describe her. Using “both…and” emphasises that she has both qualities. So, the sentence reads “She is both talented and hardworking.”

Question 3

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“You can ___ have ice cream ___ cake for dessert.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The missing words are “either…or.” We use “either” to introduce the first option and “or” for the second. This means you have to choose just one option. The sentence offers a choice between ice cream or cake. “Either…or” makes this choice clear and balanced in the sentence. So the correct phrase is “either have ice cream or cake.”

Question 4

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“___ the teacher ___ the students agreed on the topic.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The correct conjunction pair is “neither…nor.” This pair is used to show that two things are not true or did not happen. In this sentence, it means that both the teacher and the students did not agree. “Neither” begins the negative pair, with “nor” joining the second element. It clearly shows disagreement from both groups. So the sentence reads “Neither the teacher nor the students agreed on the topic.”

Question 5

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“She stayed up late to finish her homework, ___ she was really tired.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The missing conjunction is “yet.” “Yet” can be used as a correlative conjunction showing contrast between two ideas. The sentence shows one idea that she worked late and another that she felt tired. “Yet” connects these opposite ideas. It shows that even though she was tired, she kept working. This makes the sentence balanced and clear.

Question 6

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“___ my brother ___ my sister love reading books.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The pair is “both…and.” This means that two people share the same interest. “Both” introduces the first person, and “and” adds the second. They both enjoy reading, so it is correct to use this pair. Using these conjunctions makes the sentence clear and balanced. So it should read “Both my brother and my sister love reading books.”

Question 7

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“You can have soup ___ salad for lunch.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The missing conjunction is “or.” “Or” is used to present choices. It shows that only one option can be chosen. The sentence offers soup or salad as lunch choices. Using “or” makes the options clear without mixing them. So the sentence completes as “You can have soup or salad for lunch.”

Question 8

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“I will ___ finish my work ___ help my friend afterwards.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The correct correlative conjunction pair is “both…and.” This means two actions will happen. The sentence shows two plans: finishing work and helping a friend. “Both” introduces the first action. “And” connects it to the second action. Together, they emphasize that both things will be done.

Question 9

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“She is ___ smart ___ funny.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The right conjunction pair is “both…and.” “Both” and “and” join two positive qualities of the person. This pair helps to say that she has two good traits, not just one. The sentence talks about someone who is smart and funny. Using “both…and” makes the sentence clear and balanced. So it says “She is both smart and funny.”

Question 10

Fill in the missing correlative conjunction:
“You can have ___ tea ___ coffee.”

Example 6-Sentence Answer

The missing correlative conjunctions are “either…or.” These words show that you have to choose one option. “Either” introduces the first choice and “or” separates the second. This makes the sentence clear when offering options. The sentence is giving a choice between tea or coffee. So it reads “You can have either tea or coffee.”

🧩 10 Examination-Style 6-Mark Questions with 10-Sentence Answers on Fill in the Missing Correlative Conjunction

Question 1

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“______ you study hard, ______ you will pass the test.“

Question 2

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“She wants to go to the park, ______ it is raining outside.“

Question 3

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“Either we walk to school, ______ we take the bus.“

Question 4

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“Not only did he finish his homework, ______ he also helped his sister.“

Question 5

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“I want to visit ______ Paris ______ Rome on my holiday.“

Question 6

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“______ you like chocolate, ______ you like vanilla ice cream.”

Question 7

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“She is ______ clever ______ hardworking.”

Question 8

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“Neither the teacher ______ the students knew what to expect during the test.”

Question 9

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“______ he is young, ______ he is very responsible.”

Question 10

Fill in the missing correlative conjunctions:
“We can go to the museum, ______ we can stay home and read.”

📝 Example 10-Sentence Explanation (for Question 1)

  1. Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join two parts of a sentence together.
  2. They help connect ideas and show relationships like choice, contrast, or cause and effect.
  3. In the sentence “______ you study hard, ______ you will pass the test,” the missing words need to link two ideas logically.
  4. The two ideas are about a condition (studying hard) and a result (passing the test).
  5. The correct correlative conjunction pair here is “if… then.”
  6. “If” introduces the condition, and “then” shows what will happen next.
  7. Using “if… then” makes the sentence clear and easier to understand.
  8. Without correlative conjunctions, sentences can sound confusing or incomplete.
  9. Learning to use these conjunctions helps improve writing clarity and flow.
  10. Therefore, filling in the missing correlative conjunctions correctly is very important for clear communication in English.