family的意思是“家庭”,指“家庭全體成員”時(shí),為集合名詞,作主語時(shí),謂語動(dòng)詞要用復(fù)數(shù)形式。作為“家庭整體”看待時(shí),謂語動(dòng)詞要用單數(shù)形式。

family有時(shí)可作“子女,孩子”解,此時(shí)不含父母,是單數(shù)名詞,但可與不定冠詞a或an連用。

family作先行詞時(shí),其關(guān)系代詞可用who,也可用which。如表示家庭成員,則一般用who;如表示家庭整體,則一般用which。

例句：

1、He moved away and broke off relations with the family.

他搬走了，斷絕了和家人的關(guān)系。

2、She and her youngest son were finally allowed to be reunited with their family

她和小兒子終于得到允許和家人團(tuán)聚。