基本的并列连接词一***只有三个：and 、 or 、 but 。此种连接词可用以连接对等的单词，短语或句子，故称为并列连接词。
a．单词
? He and I enjoy singing.
b．短语
? I came to see him and（to ) tell him the truth .
c．句子
? He works hard，and his father is proud of him.
虽然基本的并列连接词只有and 、 or 、 but三个，但亦可由此三个变化成下列数个连接词：
这些连接词亦可连接对等的单词、短语或句子。
a.单词
? Both Peter and Mary work hard.
? （彼得与玛丽都努力工作。）
? He is not kind but cruel.
? （他非但不仁慈，反而很残忍。）
? He will either stay or leave.
? （他不是走就是留。）
b．短语
He went to the United States not only to learn English but （also） to know more about American culture.
（他去美国不仅去学英语，也是去了解美国文化。）
He succeeded both because of his intelligence and because of his hard work.
（成功既因他的聪明，亦因他的努力。）
c.句子
? He succeeded both because he was intelligent and because he worked hard.
（商功既因为他聪明，亦因他努力。）
? Not only can she sing, but she can （also） dance.
（她不仅会唱歌，她也会跳舞。）
下列连接词亦视为并列连接词，可连接对等的单词、短语或句子
as well as … 以及… …
rather than … 而非… …
a．单词
? We as well as John like it.
? （我们和约翰都喜欢它。）
? He is happy rather than sad.
（他很快乐，而不是伤心。）
b. 短语
He is interested in music rather than in painting
（他对音乐有兴趣，而非对绘画有兴趣。）（rather than连接对等的介词短语）
He came here to learn English as well as to know more about life.
（他来此地学英文并了解更多有关生活的事情）
c.句子
He failed because he was lazy rather than because he was not intelligent.
（他失败是因为懒惰，并非是因为他不聪明）（as well as连接对等的状语从句）
I love her because she is intelligent as well as because she is considerate.
（我爱她是因为她聪明，也因为她体贴)
as well as或rather than连接主语时，该句动词始终要随第一个主语做变化
使用 both...and.../either...or.../neither...nor.../not...but.../not only...but also...等连接词时，要注意下列事项：
a.连接主语时，“both…and…”之后始终接复数动词；其余连接词连接主语时，动词则要随最近的主语做单复数变化 。
? Both he and I are happy about it.
? Either he or I am wrong.
b. both...and... / neither..nor... / not...but…等三组连接词通常 不用来连接句子 ， 而not only...but also../,则可用来连接句子，唯not only引导的句子要采 倒装结构 。
? Not only can she sing, but she can also dance.
c. not only...but also...之中的also通常可以省略。若不省略，则连接单词或短语时but also不可分开，但 连接句子时，but also一定要分开 ，也就是将also 置于句中。