parent的單複數以及相關代詞的使用
1. 關於單數與複數的使用:
(1) 其意為“父親”或“母親”,要表示“父母雙親”,須用其複數形式。如:
You ought to obey your parents. 你應當聽你父母的話。
John and Mary have become parents. 約翰和瑪麗已做父母了。
Both units are largely dependent on the parent company. 兩個單位均主要依靠母公司。
(3) 如果只指父親或只指母親,則要用單數。如:
Being a parent can be hard work. 為人父母可能很不容易。
Which parent is more important in the first year of life? 在出生後的第一年,父親與母親哪一位更重要?
如果指不同人的父親或母親,要用複數。如:
The teacher was in conference with the parents after school. 放學後老師與家長商談。
(4) 在某些特定表達中,由於意義是單數,也用單數。如:
Greed is the parent of many evils. 貪婪是萬惡之根源。
The parent teacher meeting is to be held next Wednesday. 家長座談會準備下星期三開。
2. 因父母雙親只有兩個,因此可以與both, either, neither等不定代詞連用,但不能與 all, any, none等不定代詞連用。如:
我父母都喜歡他。
誤:All my parents like him.
正:Both my parents like him.
父母親中隨便哪個都可以參加學校會議。
誤:Any parent can attend the school meeting.
正:Either parent can attend the school meeting.
他父母都不知道他在哪兒。
誤:None of his parents knows where he lives.
誤:Neither of his parents knows where he lives.