Is the following sentence natural?
Gorillas have often been portrayed as a fearful animal, but in truth these shy apes rarely fight over sex, food, or territory.
The subject Gorillas is plural, but a fearful animal is singular.
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Sign up to join this communityIs the following sentence natural?
Gorillas have often been portrayed as a fearful animal, but in truth these shy apes rarely fight over sex, food, or territory.
The subject Gorillas is plural, but a fearful animal is singular.
First of all note the difference between fearful & fearsome
I suppose you could make the jump from singular to plural without anyone noticing, but I'd do it using the comma as your 'jump-point'...
The gorilla has often been portrayed as a fearsome animal, but in truth these shy apes rarely fight over sex, food, or territory.
Otherwise use
...portrayed as fearsome animals, ...
& stick to the plural right through.
After comments -
Yes fearful could also be used - however, if there is any chance of ambiguity don't use it.
A fearful noise, fearful wind, fearful storm - inanimate objects could not be confused as being afraid.
The field mouse has often been portrayed as a fearful animal...
Really?
The plural gorillas can be understood as a reference to the species as a whole, hence a "fearful" or "fearsome" animal, whatever the intended meaning is.
Kangaroos have often been portrayed as a pugnacious animal.
There is no obligation to see it as a plural or to see it as a reference to the species. It can be either.
But some would prefer to say
The kangaroo has often been portrayed as a pugnacious animal.