either... or

[navi tasan]

Are these sentences correct:

1) His dog barks at men in blue or brown jackets.
2) His dog barks at men either in blue or in brown jackets.
3) His dog barks at men wearing either blue or brown jackets.

4) His dog barks at men in blue and brown jackets.
5) His dog barks at men wearing blue and brown jackets.

Of the first three, which mean:
a) His dog barks both at men in blue jackets and at men in brown jackets.
and which mean:
b) His dog barks either at men in blue jackets or at men in brown jackets.

Gratefully,
Navi.

 

[Tdol]

To be honest, it is unlikely that the speaker would have worked things out in such detail.

 

[MikeNewYork]

1 and 3 are good. They both mean a. 2 is not natural for me.

In 4 and 5, the jackets would have to be two-colored.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much, Tdol and Mike,

How would you express this idea:


b) His dog barks either at men in blue jackets or at men in brown jackets. (I don't know which.)

Would these work:


6) His dog barks either at men either wearing blue jackets or wearing brown jackets. (I don't know which.)
7) His dog barks either at men who are either wearing blue jackets or wearing brown jackets. (I don't know which.)

Gratefully,
Navi.

 

[MikeNewYork]

No, those don't work.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much, Mike,

So there is really no good way to shorten:


b) His dog barks either at men in blue jackets or at men in brown jackets. I don't know which.

is there?

Gratefully,
Navi.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I don't know why one would bother.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much, Mike, for your patience.That is a good point!Respectfully,Navi.