twin指双胞胎之一,而不是指双胞胎两个,指两者时要用复数。比较:
I can’t tell one twin from the other. 我分不出双胞胎中谁是谁。
I spoke to both of the twins this morning. 今晨我与两个双胞胎都谈了谈。
类似地,parent指父母之一,即指父亲或母亲,要表示父母双亲,应用复数parents。比较:
A half-brother is brother with only one parent in common with another half-brother指同父异母或同母异父的兄弟。
The parents named their baby Tony. 父母给他们的孩子取名托尼。
(摘自《英语常用词多用途词典》twin词条,金盾出版社)