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问题描述
He came with his friends and his mother—the former ______ fashionably dressed.
A. was B. were
请问是该用单数还是用复数？从形式上看应该是单数，但由于这个 the former 是指代 his friends 的，应该是复数。应该如何取舍呢？
老师答疑
付老师：
本题选择 B。the former 用作代词时，指代的是 the first mentioned of two things or people，即上文提及到的两个事物或两个人当中的第一个。the former 作主语时，谓语动词的单复数取决于它所指代的名词的单复数。例如：
Both Williams and Andrews claim the property. The former insists that it was a gift.
Clearly dominant ideologies are not equivalent to public opinion since the former are connected with power and may override local concerns.
曾老师：
同意付老师的解答，请采纳。的确如此，有些表示前后照应的形容词(如 above, below, aforesaid, following, former, latter…)与定冠词连用且作句子的主语时，要据其代表的名词的数来确定其谓语的单复数形式。请比较以下两组句子：
The following is a way of solving the maths problem. 下面是解答这道数学题的一种方法。
The following are ways of solving the maths problem. 下面是解答这道数学题的几种方法。
As for a cellphone and a computer, the latter is more practical. 至于手机和电脑，后者更实用。
As for cellphones and computers, the latter are more practical. 至于手机和电脑，后者更实用。
祥老师：
非常感谢付老师和曾老师的解答！
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