老师说在make up one’s mind这个短语中,如果one’s 是单数(如his, my, her),则mind也用单数;如果one’s 是复数(如our, their),则mind也用复数。如:
In the end he made up his mind to go by train. 最后他决定坐火车去。
We made up our minds to spend our holiday in the country. 我们决定到乡下去度假。
但是,下面这句one’s用了复数,但mind却用了单数:
They made up their mind that they would buy a new house once Larry changed jobs. 他们下定决心,一旦拉里换了工作,他们就买所新房子。
注:这是2014年一道山东省的高考题。
在 make up one’s mind 中,如果 one’s 是单数,mind 肯定只能用单数,这是毫无疑问的,但如果 one’s 是复数,则 mind 用单数或复数均可。给你补充几个例句吧:
They find it difficult to make up their mind(s). 他们难以下决心。(《新时代英语惯用法词典》外文出版社)
Most politicians are careful to see which way the wind’s blowing before they make up their minds. 大多数政客都很谨慎,他们看清形势后再作决定。(《牛津英语习语词典》)