they are -> she is?

[vkhu]

"James or Jane will tell you what proposal they are in favour of"

My teacher said the they're part need to be changed into she's. Is that correct? I mean James and Jane are two people here right? And James is a male name. Why did she tell us to change they're into she's?

[Rover_KE]

If it's Jane who has to make the decision, then she's is correct, even if James is the one to tell you about it.

If James and Jane have to reach a joint decision, then I disagree with your teacher.

Rover

[Raymott]

If it's Jane who has to make the decision, then she's is correct, even if James is the one to tell you about it.

If James and Jane have to reach a joint decision, then I disagree with your teacher.

Rover

In fact "she's" might not refer to Jane at all, but to a third person. You can't tell from just that sentence what word needs to be there.

[TheParser]

"James or Jane will tell you what proposal they are in favour of"

My teacher said the they're part need to be changed into she's. Is that correct? I mean James and Jane are two people here right? And James is a male name. Why did she tell us to change they're into she's?

NOT A TEACHER


(1) I am sure that you have a wonderful teacher.

(2) Maybe your teacher is confused by this rule:

"Singular subjects joined by or take the singular verb."

(a) For example, "Mary or Raoul was going to do the cooking."

(Warriner's English Granmmar and Composition)

(3) As the teachers have told you, however, there are three ways to interpret

that sentence:

James will tell you what proposal he is in favor of or Jane will tell you what proposal she is in favor of.

James will tell you what proposal he and Jane are in favor of or Jane will tell you what proposal she and James are in favor of.

James will tell you what proposal those people over there are in favor or Jane will tell you what proposal those people over there are in favor of.

(4) Perhaps if you respectfully show your teacher the answers from the two teachers, your teacher will realize that your answer could be correct, too.

[vkhu]

ok I get it now. Thanks.