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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Another is vs. are question
"If you or someone you know is in need... " OR "If you or someone you know are in need..."? I suspect "are" is correct, but I see "is" so often, I have to ask.
Top answer
" Thus: If you or someone you know is in need .... If someone you know or you are in need .... Of course, native speakers often don't follow the rules.
- " Thus: If you or someone you know is in need ....
- If someone you know or you are in need ....
- Of course, native speakers often don't follow the rules.
- They often let the sound of the sentence be the determining factor.
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2 Answers
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I was taught that the verb agrees with the (pro)noun after the word "or."
Thus:
If you or someone you know is in need ....
If someone you know or you are in need ....
Of course, native speakers often don't follow the rules. They often let the sound of the sentence be the determining factor.
Thus:
If you or someone you know is in need ....
If someone you know or you are in need ....
Of course, native speakers often don't follow the rules. They often let the sound of the sentence be the determining factor.
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Hi Anon;
See rule #5 in this excellent reference on tricky rules for subject-verb agreement:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm
Cheers,
A-
See rule #5 in this excellent reference on tricky rules for subject-verb agreement:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm
Cheers,
A-
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