a parent还是parents(单数与复数的区别)

问题描述

下面的是2009年的北京卷高考题：
Being a parent is not always easy, and being the parent of a child with special needs often carries with ________ extra stress.
A. it           B. them           C. one          D. him
这题的答案是A，资料上的翻译是：为人父母并非总是一件容易的事，作为一个有特殊需求的孩子的父母，会有更多的额外的压力。
两个疑问：
1. 句子中为什么用 a parent，而不用 parents 呢？父母不是两个吗？
2. 句中的 with it extra stree 是什么结构，是复合结构吗？
请专家老师解答，谢谢！

老师答疑

刘老师：

针对你的问题，回答如下：
1. a parent 或 the parent，都是指父母的其中之一。
2. carries with it extra stress. 等于 carries extra stress with it. 即：谓语 carries 和宾语 extra stress 被 with it 所分隔。不是 with 复合结构。
介词短语把两个成分进行分隔的现象很常见，例如：
She carries over the shoulder of her leather coat a heavy black purse.
It is better for you to take with you whatever you need most anytime.
I didn't find the joke at all amusing.
There are many people on the platform waiting for the train.

李老师：

首先，a parent 意思是 a person's father or mother, 但常用parents，意思是 father and mother.
其次，carries with it extra stress 相当于 carries extra sress with it.
例如：

My views don't carry much weight with the boss. 我的意见对老板起不了多少作用。