1. 关于单数与复数的使用：

(1) 其意为“父亲”或“母亲”，要表示“父母双亲”，须用其复数形式。如：

You ought to obey your parents. 你应当听你父母的话。

John and Mary have become parents. 约翰和玛丽已做父母了。

(2) 若用于名词前作定语，通常用单数。如：

Both units are largely dependent on the parent company. 两个单位均主要依靠母公司。

(3) 如果只指父亲或只指母亲，则要用单数。如：

Being a parent can be hard work. 为人父母可能很不容易。

Which parent is more important in the first year of life? 在出生后的第一年，父亲与母亲哪一位更重要?

如果指不同人的父亲或母亲，要用复数。如：

The teacher was in conference with the parents after school. 放学后老师与家长商谈。

(4) 在某些特定表达中，由于意义是单数，也用单数。如：

Greed is the parent of many evils. 贪婪是万恶之根源。

The parent teacher meeting is to be held next Wednesday. 家长座谈会准备下星期三开。

2. 因父母双亲只有两个，因此可以与both, either, neither等不定代词连用，但不能与 all, any, none等不定代词连用。如：

我父母都喜欢他。

误：All my parents like him.

正：Both my parents like him.

父母亲中随便哪个都可以参加学校会议。

误：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儿。

误：None of his parents knows where he lives.

误：Neither of his parents knows where he lives.