(1) ①pair指由两个一样的东西组成的“一双,一对,一副”,如眼镜、手套、鞋袜等;“一条,一把”,如裤子、剪刀等。
- I shan't send my clothes to that laundry any longer, they have ruined a new pair of trousers of mine.
我再也不把衣服送去那家洗衣店洗了,他们把我的一条新裤子弄坏了。
②pair也可指 “一对夫妇”。
- He has never heard of any misunderstanding between the pair .
他从未听说过这一对夫妇间有过什么误解。 - The bride and groom are a good-looking pair .
新娘和新郎是很漂亮的一对。
③有时也指“两个人,两个套在一起的牲畜”。
- Tom and his brother are a friendly pair .
汤姆和他兄弟两个人很要好。 - The farmer hitched the pair of oxen to the wagon.
这位农民把两头牛套在牛车上。
注意:在主语中,pair如是单数,谓语动词也用单数。
- A pair of gloves is a welcome present.
一副手套是件受欢迎的礼物。
(2) ①couple 可指一对夫妇。
- The young couple began their honeymoon at the Red Sea resort.
这对年轻夫妇在红海旅游胜地开始了他们的蜜月。 - They are a newly-married couple .
他们是一对新婚夫妇。
②couple也可指“一对人(如舞伴);一对东西”。
- Ten couples took the floor.
有10对舞伴跳舞。 - I found a couple of socks but they don't make a pair.
我找到了两只袜子,但配不成一双。
③a couple (of) 有时指“一两个”,“(少数)几个”。
- She was expecting a baby in a couple of months.
再过一两个月她就要生孩子了。
