"Or" usage

by **Guest** Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:40 am

Hi,

Manhattan guide says that "or" is a part of disjunctive phrase and so the nearest noun rule should aplly to it..

So Can I say that,

Sam or other people are coming for the party

The above sentence is poorly written but I just want to no whether "or" functions in the same way as Either...or and neither...nor

Thanks.

by **esledge** Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:22 pm

Yes, 'or' functions the same was as 'either...or' or 'neither...nor' for subject-verb agreement purposes.

Thus, your sentence "Sam or other people are coming for the party" is correct. "Other people" are plural, they ARE coming for the party.