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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Wasn't Kidman wrong?

In the film "The Hours" where Nicole Kidman plays Virginia Woolf, she speaks the line: "It's one of the things that happenS when you die." It bugged me, so I checked David Hare's script where the line reads: "It's one of the things that happen when you die" which I find to be correct. The subject must be "things" - plural. BUT THEN! I've just been watching the Hercule Poirot film "Cards on the table" in which a Mr Shaitana says; "One of the little tragedies that never getS reported" - same problem again. (except, I must admit, the last example was from the subtitles, and I actually think I heard Mr Shaitana say this: "One of the little tragedies. Never gets reported."
But ... am I right in thinking that the grammar is faulty?
  

Top answer

Anonymous But ... am I right in thinking that the grammar is faulty? Yes, but it is a common utterance by natives.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous But ...
  • am I right in thinking that the grammar is faulty?
  • Yes, but it is a common utterance by natives.
  • We do not stop to parse our sentences.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousBut ... am I right in thinking that the grammar is faulty?
Yes, but it is a common utterance by natives. We do not stop to parse our sentences.
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AnonymousIt's one of the things that happenS when you die
Wrong.
AnonymousOne of the little tragedies that never getS reported
Wrong.

CJ
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