CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1e

ELA5th GradeConventions of Standard English

The Standard

Use correlative conjunctions (e.g., either/or, neither/nor).

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

What This Standard Means

Students need to use paired conjunctions correctly, such as either/or, neither/nor, both/and, and not only/but also. They should know that the two parts work as a team and connect matching kinds of words or ideas.

Mastery means students can write and revise sentences where both parts are present, placed correctly, and balanced. Students often use only one half of the pair, mix pairs incorrectly, or make the sentence sound uneven, such as connecting a noun to a full clause.

Ways to Teach It

  • Give students sentence strips with halves of correlative conjunction pairs and have them build correct, balanced sentences with partners.
  • Prompt students to revise three plain sentences using either/or, both/and, and not only/but also.
  • Use a five-item exit ticket where students choose the correct missing partner in each sentence.
  • Have students find correlative conjunctions in cafeteria rules, ads, or book blurbs and explain what ideas they connect.

Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1e

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What This Unlocks

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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