How can I use the expression "Couple of"?
Lately I have heard in many serials the expression "couple of...". But I learned "couple" as a word to express two person together or thing like this. Sometimes I have the feeling that word means too: some or few, Am I right?
I've been looking for this expression for a long time and now I decided to share my doubt with all of you here!
Thank you all!
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 6
1
I have never read this in a dictionary, or grammar book, but my dad taught me when I was young that "couple" means two and "few" means three. They are generally used as estimates, though, so the actual number can vary.
She had a couple books under her arm.
He ate a few grapes.
There were a couple of children shrieking and laughing outside.
I hope this helps.
1
'Couple' means two, or 'more or less' two.
So, if you aren't sure exactly when something happened, you might say 'A couple of years ago'. By this, you mean anything from, say, 18 months to 3 years.
Sometimes, 'a couple of' can be a deliberately vague way of describing something. For example, if you tell your wife that you just had 'a couple of drinks' with your friends after work, this could mean two, or three, or four drinks ... or maybe you don't remember!
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