what之后为何不用are?

有一读者问: 有这样一个疑问句:

(1)What's your name and number?

为什么what之后不用are?

疑问句what, who, where, how等位于句首时,其后常用单数动词is或其缩略式 's。即使单数动词之后为复数名词,亦是如此。再如:

(2)Who's there? (who可意指单个人和多个人)

(3)Where's mum and dad?

(4)How's things?

这个问题可与“there is+复数名词”联系起来,如:

(5)There's hundreds of people in the waiting list.

之所以都用is,皆是由于说话人往往总是先用is,然后才想到其后的名词。