pair 用法 (a pair of…is/are)
問：This pair of socks are too small, I cannot wear them. 句中的are 是否要改成is; them 是否要改成it?
答：根據現代英語文法學家們的論述, 上句中的“are”應改為“is”。因為作“一副”、“一雙”、“一對”、“一條”解的“a pair of 與複數名詞連用時, 同一個子句中的動詞要用單數”。
請看下面有關pair 用法的實例:
- A pair of glasses costs quite a lot these days.
眼下一副眼鏡值很多錢。 - A new pair of shoes brings more happiness to a child than a new car brings to a grown-up.
一雙新鞋給兒童帶來的快樂甚於一輛新車給成年人帶來的快樂。
但是, a pair of 之後的代名詞以及形容詞子句中的動詞則常用複數形式:
- I like this pair. How much are they (is it)?
我喜歡這一雙。(它們) 賣多少錢? - She went to wardrobe, chose a pair of shoes, put them on and leaned back in the chair.
她向衣櫥走去, 選了一雙鞋, 穿在腳上, 然後坐在椅子上, 背倚在椅背上。 - He wrote a pair of earphones, which were plugged into a tape-recorder.
他戴著一副耳機, 耳機連在答錄機上。
應當注意, 當a pair(of) 作“兩個人”、“一對夫婦”解時, 其動詞通常用複數, 但有時也可用單數:
- A pair of teenage boys were smoking cigarettes.
兩個十幾歲的男孩正在吸煙⋯ ⋯ - The happy pair is/are going to Spain after their wedding.
這對幸福的新婚夫婦在婚禮後將去西班牙。