the singer and the dancer/the singer and dancer

【问】 The singer and the dancer is to attend our English evening.

一位歌唱家兼舞蹈家将要出席我们的英语晚会。(《大学英语》1996年第一期，P.56)The singer and the dancer可以译为“一位歌唱家兼舞蹈家”吗?

【答】 上面的英文和中译文都存在问题。可能是笔误，也可能是印刷错误。但是，这里存在的问题，对于我们的讨论倒是极其有用的。

如果and所连接的是两个人或两个事物，则在每个名词前都得加定冠词，而且其谓语动词要用复数：

1. The singer and the dancer are to attend our English evening.

那位歌唱家和那位舞蹈家将出席我们的英语晚会。

2. The owner and the editor of the Daily Post were members of the club.

《每日邮报》的老板和编辑曾是这个俱乐部的会员。

如果and所连接的两个名词表示一个人或一件事物，则两个名词共用一个定冠词，并且其谓语动词必须用单数：

1. The singer and dancer is to attend our English evening.

那位歌唱家兼舞蹈家将参加我们的英语晚会。

2. The owner and editor of the Daily Post was a member of the club. (CGEL)

《每日邮报》的老板兼编辑曾是这个俱乐部的会员。

3. A writer and educator has visited our school.

一位作家兼教育家参观了我们的学校。

[参见a(an)⁴]