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Syria flagMohammad
How often do native speakers use the singular form here? While watching a video, I came across the following sentence: "Our views of what's going on in this world is a skewed one." At first, I didn't understand why they used the singular form "a skewed one" to describe the plural noun "views" until I read that "the change in grammatical number is not a very surprising mistake". My question is whether this is a common thing to hear in casual conversations and whether it is really considered a mistake or just too informal. Thanks.

Answers · 15

3
In fact, this is a common "mistake" - but few people would notice it, and even fewer would be bothered by it (except a few language teachers :) ), Of course in written English it is best to try to avoid this. I taught English for many years abroad, but came home every summer, and I remember sometimes listening to people chatting on the bus (in the UK) with my "English teacher's ear" and being amazed at the number of "mistakes" I was hearing. I think it is just part of casual rapid conversation among many native speakers... Of course I wouldn't make a mistake like that ;) !!
2
It's just a mistake. I think most native speakers would either make both the subject and the verb singular or make both the subject and the verb plural. Our view of what's going on in this world is a skewed one. Our views of what's going on in this world are skewed.
2
I think what influenced the writer is the word "world" in front of the verb. It is a mistake. Our views are skewed. Our view is skewed. (of what's going on) (in the world) two prepositional phrases that divide the subject, views, from the verb, are- which they have incorrectly conjugated as "is"
0
Native speakers make this mistake all of the time, including myself.
0
Thanks Angela.

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