o_paradoxus (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} o_paradoxus) wrote,@ 2005-09-15 19:17:00 |
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A Grammatical Question about Disjunctions
Which of the following is correct?
I think that (1) is correct. This is because the disjunction is true even if just A or just B is true. In that case, the subject of the verb is singular. Though the disjunction is true if both A and B are true, it would prejudge the case in favor of that possibility to use the plural form of the verb.
I suppose that someone could make a parallel argument in favor of (2) as well, that is, that the singular prejudges the case in favor of a ``singular'' interpretation.
Note that it is clear that
is correct.
I don't know if these problems occur outside of the context of a conditional; I can't think up an example just now.
Which of the following is correct?
- "If either A or B occur, then X."
- "If either A or B occurs, then X."
I think that (1) is correct. This is because the disjunction is true even if just A or just B is true. In that case, the subject of the verb is singular. Though the disjunction is true if both A and B are true, it would prejudge the case in favor of that possibility to use the plural form of the verb.
I suppose that someone could make a parallel argument in favor of (2) as well, that is, that the singular prejudges the case in favor of a ``singular'' interpretation.
Note that it is clear that
- ``If A and B occur, then X.''
is correct.
I don't know if these problems occur outside of the context of a conditional; I can't think up an example just now.
