couple表示“一对夫妻”时,它若用作主语,谓语动词用复数。例如:
The couple were sitting just behind me. 这对夫妇就坐在我的后面。
如果 couple 表示若干对中的一对,即表示一个单位时,谓语动词一个用单数,例如:
Each couple was asked to complete a form. 要求每对夫妇填一张表。
And tonight's winning couple is George and Dorothy Lightfoot. 今晚获胜的一对是乔治和多萝西莱特福特。
“a couple of + ... + 复数名词”作主语时,谓语动词用复数。例如:
A couple of my friends plan to open a travel agency. 我的几个朋友计划开办一个旅行社。(不能说:A couple of my friends plans ...)
下面一句的谓语动词用单数或者复数都可以:
The young couple seems [seem] to be happy. 这对年轻人看起来很快乐。
同意黎老师的观点,查了一些资料,补充说明如下:
couple表示“夫妇”“夫妻”且用作主语时,谓语动词可用单数(视为整体,尤其是当有each, every, only one等修饰时)或复数(考虑其个体)。如:
Each couple was asked to complete a form. 要求每对夫妇填一张表。
The couple were married last week. 这一对夫妇是上星期结的婚。
有时语境上不明确强调个体还是整体,则用单数或复数均可。如:
The couple was [were] married in 1976. 这对夫妇于1976年结婚。(《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》第6版)