Is or are?

[Dominoes]

Which of the following is correct?

a) I don't know where the wedding or reception is.

b) I don't know where the wedding or reception are.



Thank you in advance

 

[Raymott]

Which of the following is correct?

a) I don't know where the wedding or reception is.

b) I don't know where the wedding or reception are.



Thank you in advance

are.

 

[Dominoes]

Thank you. I've no idea why, but I was convinced b) was correct.

The following sentence is correct, isn't it?

I don't know where either of them is.

 

[shannico]

I can see why Raymott said are. Still I think is is acceptable.

I don't know whether (either) the wedding or the reception is /are.

are.

 

[Dominoes]

Oops - I meant I thought a) was correct.

To be honest with you, I don't understand how b) can be correct. Can anyone shed some light on this for me, please?

 

[bhaisahab]

Oops - I meant I thought a) was correct.

To be honest with you, I don't understand how b) can be correct. Can anyone shed some light on this for me, please?

It's correct because a wedding and a reception are two different things and are held in different locations.

 

[Dominoes]

It's correct because a wedding and a reception are two different things and are held in different locations.

Ok. Thanks.

So, out of the sentences below, a) is correct, isn't it?

a) Are your mum or dad going?
b) Is your mum or dad going?

Answer a) just sounds wrong to me :-?

 

[Raymott]

Ok. Thanks.

So, out of the sentences below, a) is correct, isn't it?

a) Are your mum or dad going?
b) Is your mum or dad going?

Answer a) just sounds wrong to me :-?

If only one of them could go (and if this was understood), you could say, "Is your Mum or your Dad going?" But you'd need the second "your" to make it sound right.
Do you say, "I don't know where Tom or Mary is"?

 

[konungursvia]

If only one of them could go (and if this was understood), you could say, "Is your Mum or your Dad going?" But you'd need the second "your" to make it sound right.
Do you say, "I don't know where Tom or Mary is"?

To me it's a bit of a false question. If a person was unaware of both locations, he or she would use "and" rather than "or," and say:

I don't know where the wedding and reception are.

If they were at the same location, or if the person wanted to portray the two as a whole, commas could be used, and then it would be 'is:'

I don't know where the wedding, or the reception, is.

 

[Dominoes]

Do you say, "I don't know where Tom or Mary is"?

Before I read your answer to my question, I would've said "I don't know where Tom or Mary is", but I guess "I don't know where Tom or Mary are" is correct. Am I right?

 

[Raymott]

To me it's a bit of a false question. If a person was unaware of both locations, he or she would use "and" rather than "or," and say:

I don't know where the wedding and reception are.

If they were at the same location, or if the person wanted to portray the two as a whole, commas could be used, and then it would be 'is:'

I don't know where the wedding, or the reception, is.

Hmm, maybe it's one of those famous CanE v AusE things.

A: I don't know where the wedding is.
B: I don't know where the wedding or the reception are!

So, do you say, "I don't know where Tom or Mary is", kon?

 

[billmcd]

Which of the following is correct?

a) I don't know where the wedding or reception is.

b) I don't know where the wedding or reception are.



Thank you in advance

Or/Is; And/Are.

 

[Raymott]

Before I read your answer to my question, I would've said "I don't know where Tom or Mary is", but I guess "I don't know where Tom or Mary are" is correct. Am I right?

I don't know. I'm beginning to doubt my own judgement. Anyhow, where we have a plural subject, I will continue to use a plural verb.
In the case of not knowing where the wedding or the reception are, it's obvious that both are unknown - plural.
I can see how you might say, "Where is Tom or Mary?" In this case, you're not necessarily looking for both. I'd still answer, "I don't know where Tom or Mary are."

 

[Dominoes]

Or/Is; And/Are.

I thought this was the case

 

[Dominoes]

I don't know. I'm beginning to doubt my own judgement. Anyhow, where we have a plural subject, I will continue to use a plural verb.
In the case of not knowing where the wedding or the reception are, it's obvious that both are unknown - plural.
I can see how you might say, "Where is Tom or Mary?" In this case, you're not necessarily looking for both. I'd still answer, "I don't know where Tom or Mary are."

No worries. Thanks for your help

 

[shannico]

I would be inclined to use a verb in the third person singular in the following as I was always taught so as a student and I am teaching it that way as a teacher too:

Neither Mark nor Sarah is at the party.
I don't know whether either Mark or Sarah is coming to the party.
Where is Mark or Sarah?

However I am aware that third person plural may be widely used and also accepted instead.

I don't know. I'm beginning to doubt my own judgement. Anyhow, where we have a plural subject, I will continue to use a plural verb.
In the case of not knowing where the wedding or the reception are, it's obvious that both are unknown - plural.
I can see how you might say, "Where is Tom or Mary?" In this case, you're not necessarily looking for both. I'd still answer, "I don't know where Tom or Mary are."

 

[shannico]

OUT OF CURIOSITY:

If you use a BrE Grammar and Spelling checker and type the following

I don’t know where either Mark or Sarah are.

on a word document, it will suggest changing are to is.

 

[Raymott]

OUT OF CURIOSITY:

If you use a BrE Grammar and Spelling checker and type the following

I don’t know where either Mark or Sarah are.

on a word document, it will suggest changing are to is.

My version of MS Word doesn't challenge that sentence.

 

[JohnAnderson]

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, the plural verb is usually used with pronouns conjoined by "and". With pronouns conjoined by "or", the situation is a bit different:

Compound singular nouns with or or nor are supposed to take a singular verb and in current use usually do. The plural verb is most likely to appear where the notion of plurality is suggested by negative construction or when the writer is thinking of "this or that or both".

 

[konungursvia]

I see your point of view too.

But I wouldn't use or when the two objects are so closely related, I think.

One of my points was that a pair of commas make the verb require accord only with the first object.

Hmm, maybe it's one of those famous CanE v AusE things.

A: I don't know where the wedding is.
B: I don't know where the wedding or the reception are!

So, do you say, "I don't know where Tom or Mary is", kon?