問:We always know what each other is / are thinking(我們向來都知道彼此的心意)這一句,應用is還是are?
答:這一句我會用is,但全句最好改寫如下:We always know each other's thoughts或Always we each know what the other is thinking。
Each other(彼此)一般作受詞(object),不作主詞(subject)。著名英語學者福勒(H W Fowler)的英語用法詞典 A Dictionary of Modern English Usage 談到each other的用法:It cannot be used when the case of "other" would be subjective(Each other之中的each可作主詞,other卻不可)。福勒舉例說,We each know what the other wants不可改為We know what each other wants(我們知道彼此要什麼)。讀者示下那一句,不合英文慣用法。
當然,論文法,each other旣可作受詞,應該也可作主詞。但語文之用,有時不講道理。韋氏英文用法詞典 Webster's Dictionary of English Usage 談到「each other作主詞」的問題,說「據韋氏檔案,書刊文字之中,幾乎沒有用each other作主詞的」(Evidence in the Merriam-Webster files indicates that such use is nearly nonexistent in edited prose)。這一點值得留意。
最後應該一提的是,「他們看見彼此的面孔」可以譯做They saw each other's face(或faces),但不可譯做They saw each others' face(或faces)。