Ou vous ou Jane devez y aller.

Sentence Discussions French
#1
English Translation

Either you or Jane has to go there.

Either you or Jane has to go there.Rules of subject-verb agreement for compound subjects:
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/compound-subjects/

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#2
English Translation

Either you or Jane has to go there.

That’s really helpful and makes perfect sense when they are combined by “et”. Is it the same rule when they are joined by “ou”?

#3

Mostly yes but, French grammar being French grammar, more rules apply:

  • The person priority applies: 1st > 2nd > 3rd

  • If one of the two subjects is plural, the verb is plural.

  • The verb is generally in plural form.

  • The exception is if the 2 subjects are singular and or is meant exclusively, in which case the verb has to be 3rd person singular!

C’est Pierre ou Paul qui gagnera.

C’est toi ou moi qui gagnera.

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#4

:flushed: mind blown! :exploding_head: I think I now know where the French nationalism comes from. Knowing that they have the most complex grammar rules in the world :rofl:

Thank you for the enlightenment.

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