form a complete sentence; the conjunctions being of course ignored for this purpose.
What other power (could) or (ever has) produced such changes?–Daily Telegraph.
Things temporal (had) and (would) alter.–Daily Telegraph.
(It had), as (all houses should), been in tune with the pleasant, mediocre charm of the island.–E. F. Benson.
This type will almost always admit of the emphatic repetition of the verb: 'could produce or ever has produced'.
Those of us who still believe in Greek as (one of the finest), if not (the finest) instruments...–Times.
(One of the noblest), if not (the noblest), feelings an Englishman could possess.—Daily Telegraph.
Use (b): 'One of the finest instruments, if not the finest'.
The games were looked upon as being (quite as important) or (perhaps more important) than drill.–Times.
The railway has done (all) and (more) than was expected of it.–Spectator.
Use (b): 'as important as drill, if not more so'; 'all that was expected of it, and more'.
All words that precede the first of two correlatives, such as 'not...but', 'both...and', 'neither...nor', are declared by their position to be common; we bracket accordingly in the next examples:
The pamphlet forms (not only a valuable addition to our works on scientific subjects), but (is also of deep interest to German readers).–Times. (not only forms..., but is...)
Forty-five per cent of the old Rossallians...received (either decorations) (or were mentioned in despatches).–Daily Telegraph. (Either received...or were)
The Senate, however, has (either passed) (or will pass) amendments to every clause.—Spectator. (either has passed or will pass)
Cloth of gold (neither seems to elate) (nor cloth of frieze to depress) him.–Lamb.
A curious extension, not to be mended in the active; for neither cannot well precede the first of two subjects when they have different verbs.
