Now, in English, the plural form is the same for all three persons. Hence we say I and you are friends, you and I are friends, I and he are friends, &c., so that, for the practice of language, the question as to the relative dignity of the three persons is a matter of indifference.
Nevertheless, it may occur even in English. Whenever two or more pronouns of different persons, and of the singular number, follow each other disjunctively, the question of concord arises. I or you,—you or he,—he or I. I believe that, in these cases, the rule is as follows:—
1. Whenever the words either or neither precede the
pronouns, the verb is in the third person. Either you or I is in the wrong; neither you nor I is in the wrong.
2. Whenever the disjunctive is simple (i. e. unaccompanied with the word either or neither) the verb agrees with the first of the two pronouns.
I or he am in the wrong.
He or I is in the wrong.
Thou or he art in the wrong.
He or thou is in the wrong.
The reasons for these rules will appear in the Chapter on Conjunctions.