Subject Verb Agreement Question

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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Subject Verb Agreement Question

Subject Verb Agreement Question

lshorton99

I would say �either he or I are to go � - I don �t know why as it doesn �t correspond to either of the suggested rules about subject agreement. I think it might be because �he � combined with �I � makes �we �. Or it might be due to a conjunctive subjunctive or the fact that there is some doubt about who is going. To be honest, I don �t really know why it is �are �, just that it �s the most natural answer - I don �t think it �ll help you teach your students though!

Lindsey

4 Jan 2011

Musichok

Hello,

I can see that quite a number of people were of some help. I found a site which can also clarify the situation) You may chech there as well.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/grammarlogs2/grammarlogs349.htm

4 Jan 2011

zailda

Lindsey, although it sounds more natural and maybe is the current usage, the rule states that in either... or... / neither... nor... clauses, the verb matches with the nearest subject because the first verb is omitted and implied in the sentence (the second takes the place of the first):

Either the kids or Rodrigo is...

Either Rodrigo or the kids are...

Either Rodrigo or I am...

The first verb is omitted (that �s why we use this kind of construction: to avoid repetition)

Either the kids (are - omitted) or Rodrigo is...

Either Rodrigo (is - omitted) or the kids are...

Either Rodrigo (is - omitted) or I am...

As I previously said, I understand the problem because some constructions I have to teach in Portuguese as a teacher, I don �t use because they sound strange to me as for the listener.

4 Jan 2011

lshorton99

Hi Zailda

Like I said - my answer doesn �t correspond to the rules, just going to show what fun English is! Either of the other alternatives just sounds strange to me!

Lindsey

5 Jan 2011

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