[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Subject-Verb agreement with compound subjects

[Lee Kaiwen]

CJ wrote:
"Either he or I ____ going."

Carol:
You're correct that the verb in an "or" phrase agrees with the nearest
noun or pronoun.

CJ (Now):
This is not a rule I'd ever heard -- let alone been taught -- until 
recently. As I said, I was taught to rewrite *because* there was no 
solution.

I've the feeling (admittedly not based on much) that the nearer-subject 
rule is one of those inventions of grammarians who can't stand the fact 
that there's no solution and take it upon themselves to invent one.


CJ