Or they were/or were they...?

[Sped Tiger]

Can you tell me the difference between these two if both are grammatically correct? If only one is, tell me which.
a. Were those constructions built by your company, or they were built by yours?
b. Were those constructions built by your company, or were they built by yours?

 

[5jj]

Welcome to the forum, Sped Tiger.

(b) is correct.

 

[Barque]

Grammatically, (b) is correct and (a) isn't. But neither makes sense. Both alternatives mean the same thing.

Were those constructions built by your company, or were they built by yours?

This effectively means: Were those constructions built by your company, or were they built by your company? Both options are the same.

 

[Sped Tiger]

Grammatically, (b) is correct and (a) isn't. But neither makes sense. Both alternatives mean the same thing.


This effectively means: Were those constructions built by your company, or were they built by your company? Both options are the same.

However, I often hear people not making the second part of their sentence interrogative if it's followed by or. So, is it really incorrect?
Another example:
a. Will you go for a walk, or you want to stay home?

 

[5jj]

Yes, it is really incorrect.

 

[Barque]

In casual speech people don't always follow grammar rules strictly. I'm sure that's the case with every language.

So, is it really incorrect?

Yes, it is but, as I said, you'll hear it in casual speech.

Returning to your first set of examples, what did you mean to say? As I pointed out, both options mean the same.

 

[Barque]

a. Will you go for a walk, or you want to stay home?

The first clause isn't natural. It should be "[Do you] want to go for a walk ...?

 

[Tarheel]

Do you want to go for a walk, or you want to stay home?

Those are unlikely options. "Do you want to go for a walk?" all by itself is quite natural.

Perhaps:

Do you want to go away for the weekend, or do you want to stay home?