[Grammar] either

[Artemchem]

how are you? I've encountered some problems using a structure "either...or", so my question is: Does a form of a verb depend on a noun (plural or single) that ends a sentance?
What is right:
Neither Marta nor Andre go to lanch., or
Neither Marta nor Andre goes to lanch.?
Thank you in advance.

 

[billmcd]

"Neither Marta nor Andre goes to lunch." Verb form with neither/nor depends on whether noun/pronoun closest to the verb is singular or plural.

 

[bhaisahab]

"Neither Marta nor Andre goes to lunch." Verb form with neither/nor depends on whether noun/pronoun closest to the verb is singular or plural.

I would say: "Neither Marta nor Andre go to lunch".

 

[Raymott]

Whichever you say, no, it has nothing to do with 'lunch' being singular.

 

[billmcd]

If I understand your post, yes, it has nothing to do with "lunch" as singular but it does depend on "Andre" as singular.

 

[Allen165]

"Goes" is correct. Here's what Patricia O'Connor, the author of Woe Is I, has to say on whether to use a singular or plural verb:

"When both halves of the subject -- the halves on either side of or or nor -- are singular, so is the verb."