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Jack112 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Brother and Sister

1. They are brother and sister.(How come this sentence is correct with out determiners?)

2. They are a brother and a sister. (Does this make sense? What does it mean when it is compared to #1?)

3. I have (a) brother. (How come #1 is correct but #3 isn't without the determiner?)

Thanks.
  

Top answer

It's the uncountable relationship that is meant in the first sentence. They are (in the relationship of) (brother and sister). They are in the brother-and-sister relationship.

— CalifJim

  • It's the uncountable relationship that is meant in the first sentence.
  • They are (in the relationship of) (brother and sister).
  • They are in the brother-and-sister relationship.
  • Likewise, They are (father and son).
  • They are (husband and wife).
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1 Answers
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It's the uncountable relationship that is meant in the first sentence.

They are (in the relationship of) (brother and sister).
They are in the brother-and-sister relationship.

Likewise,
They are (father and son).
They are (husband and wife).

Or even,
They are (student and teacher).
They are (lawyer and client).

But not,
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