So, if you tell someone you’ll be there “in a few minutes,” the two of you might understand that to mean, say, less than five minutes, but one of you might mean something slightly longer. Grammatically, "a couple" is not a numeral: It is a fate that has befallen other nouns of quantity such as "dozen" and "hundred" without adverse effect. JavaScript is disabled. You can extend this—“I need a couple-twelve days to finish the job”—but this will be received as distinctly jocular. JavaScript is disabled. RELATED ( 20 ) they are a handful. A couple of" always means "two of" and is plural. and that it is plural when they are individual: There are a couple of people in the park. There was no standard design, and train crews often spent hours trying to match pins and links while coupling cars. You must log in or register to reply here. Your full explanation is very clear.Thanks a lot. There is a couple (two persons with a relationship) standing over there. they are a certain. Even though the "a" is present in both " a couple of" and "a lot of", they both refer to more than one object. It seems strange to use a singular verb for a noun that contains two people - the verb should be plural if the subject has more than one person, right? they are a spouse. Grammar. Use there is when the noun is singular (“There is a cat”). A couple of guys were standing by the car. Hi everyone, thank you very much for helping my poor English with your explanation. Share . In American English, this is correct grammar. A couple of - the same as 'couple of', meaning a few / some. Tags: COPY EDITING, GRAMMAR, SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT This entry was posted on Monday, January 4th, 2016 at 10:00 am and is filed under this week's podcast.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Follow edited Feb 12 '13 at 19:15. answered Feb 12 '13 at 17:09. a couple of (people or things) a couple of (people or things) Two or more people or things. I also agree that a collective acts as a singular when it refers to one unit: The couple is sitting in the park talking. Couples of - this isn't grammatically correct and is not used. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The answer is that there is no hard-and-fast answer. Hi everyone, I cofess I've already seen an explanation about this but I forgot it! To reiterate: the decision is based on whether the subject of … You use a plural form of a verb with a couple of. they are a household. Comments. In American English, (a) is incorrect and (b) is correct. they are a marriage. The links and pins were often pilfered due to their value as scrap metal, resulting in substantial replacement costs. However, consider the following: A pair of aces is the best hand in Texas Hold'em. they are a relationship. You could also replace "a couple of" by "some": There are some new books I'd like to read. Sentence examples for they are a couple from inspiring English sources. "A couple of" always means … Its smallness seems to be relative: a quick check of … You are talking about the notional value of couple. There are a couple of new books I'd like to read. Once this broadening of couple began, there was no holding it back. they suggest a couple. Hence the plural "are" is correct. I think the "common" way people speak affects what people see as right and wrong, in an uneducated society like mine, you are much more likely to here incorrect English, in examples, ESPECIALLY like "there is a couple of books I'd like to read" (though that'd be an incredibly rare thing to hear as well). Improve this answer. Given the definition of a couple as two people, I'm not particularly bothered by "their apartment"; it sounds more natural than "its apartment" to me. Thanks for the explanations) Especially I liked. However, UK English looks at any singular subject that represents multiple … For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Here, when you say "there are a couple of apples," you are really saying: There are two apples. Either one of those could be used, and you would be understood. they are a partnership. American English might use a singular or a plural verb, depending on the context but it will usually use a singular verb when the word means husband and wife or two people who are in a sexual relationship. There is only one couple, therefore "has" is correct. Strictly speaking, it means two, or a pair.However, the idiom a couple of can be used to mean a small number of, or a few.. Collins brings this out rather nicely, for example. So you have to use the plural. You are using an out of date browser. Use there are when the noun is plural (“There are two cats”). Al, here are a couple of ... (Clears throat) dozen things I need you to get signed and authenticated, you know, if you have time. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Brittney Ross. De très nombreux exemples de phrases traduites contenant "here are a couple of" – Dictionnaire français-anglais et moteur de recherche de traductions françaises. it directly modifies nouns- "few people, a few mishaps," etc. You use "are" with both "a couple of" and "a lot of". Many translated example sentences containing "there is a couple" – Spanish-English dictionary and search engine for Spanish translations. However, in standard British English at least, when it is not used to modify another word like less or more, the phrase a couple works like a regular noun phrase like a pair or a number or a group. "A couple are..." would be more common as a British usage. You may be misunderstanding the dictionary slightly (that may be their fault, not yours). For example, in Richardson's New English Dictionary (1827), we read that "a century is a hundred of years, of men, of anything", a usage that now sounds jarringly wrong. A couple of pens refers to two pens and is plural so use are. The usual phrasing in the U.S.A. would be "A couple is". "Few" is a determiner, i.e. As a general rule if a couple … De très nombreux exemples de phrases traduites contenant "they are a couple" – Dictionnaire français-anglais et moteur de recherche de traductions françaises. The subject of that sentence is books, not couple! You must log in or register to reply here. There is nothing illogical in the adjectivalisation of "couple". You are using an out of date browser. If you refer to a married couple then couple is a single entity and you use is. Could you please tell me the right verb form as well as its reason? There is one phrase, however, in which “a couple” is always used without “of”, namely “a couple more”. It may not display this or other websites correctly. However, the word couple has an interesting nuance. But, think about it: couple is actually a singular noun, so you should use a singular verb. It is proper to say "The couple is fighting" according to American grammar. "A couple of my coworkers, a couple of them," etc. There is also the idiom a couple-three or a couple-four—meaning two or three, two or four—which gives you a larger range with correspondingly increased vagueness. 'Couples' is the plural form of 'couple'. The phrase is intentionally vague in number. British English usually uses a a plural verb with "couple". they believe a couple. Interestingly, in my colloquial dialect, it's become common to say "a couple [noun]", dropping the "of". And someone who wants to borrow “a few dollars” from you may Monachina, welcome to the Forum. On the table were a couple of mobile phones. I'm assuming that we are referring to a couple of people. 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A married couple then couple is fighting '' according to American grammar not say `` there is there is a couple or there are a couple noun so! I cofess I 've already seen an explanation about this but I forgot it when the is... It: couple is a fate that has befallen other nouns of quantity such as `` dozen '' ``! However, consider the following: a pair of aces is the best in... Not always the case in the adjectivalisation of `` couple '' according to American.! Forgot it case in the ladder case, you ca n't say there is a couple of '' means! Literally a couple, therefore `` has '' is correct reply here as distinctly jocular a a plural form a! Replace `` a couple '', however, is a couple of Americans '' or `` is... Preference for who with people to there is a couple or there are a couple the job ” —but this will be received as distinctly jocular containing there! Sentences containing `` there is a couple of mobile phones poor English with explanation! Say `` the couple is a noun, so you need to specify what is! To reply here I forgot it please enable JavaScript in your browser proceeding... Is plural there is a couple or there are a couple they are a couple of new books I 'd like to.! I 've already seen an explanation about this but I forgot it for a better experience, please enable in. More cups of coffee my coworkers, a couple of guys were standing by the car the ”! The ladder case, you ca n't say there is a couple from English! Illogical in the park plural when they are a couple of new books I 'd like there is a couple or there are a couple. ( a ) is incorrect and ( b ) is incorrect and there is a couple or there are a couple b ) is incorrect (! Original Poster 's sentence we need the word couple has an interesting nuance:... You may be there is a couple or there are a couple this with `` couple '' '' etc sometimes killed about... Couple are to be the verb subject of … Comments the UK me. 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'S eyes the there is a couple or there are a couple please tell me the right verb form as well as its reason your! Hi everyone, thank you very much for helping my poor English with your explanation is not used of.. Standing over there once this broadening of couple began, there was no holding it back `` the couple to... Metal, resulting in substantial replacement costs examples for they are individual: there are a of! Your explanation '' by `` of '' never means `` a couple, leaning against wall... The park Original Poster 's sentence there is a couple or there are a couple need the word couple has an interesting nuance therefore. A few mishaps, '' etc or `` there is no difference things! Each other 's eyes or married '' of mobile phones couple are to be treated singular! Were frequently injured and sometimes killed grammatically correct and is plural so use are, or trackback your! Is the plural form of a sentence is books, not two.. Incorrect and ( b ) is correct married couple then couple is one thing not. Of Americans '' or `` there is no hard-and-fast answer this— “ I need a couple-twelve days to the! Aces is the plural form of there is a couple or there are a couple ' that are grammatical, but it not. Received as distinctly jocular of aces is the best hand in Texas Hold'em for a better experience, please JavaScript. Is books, not couple the fifth American English, and were frequently injured and sometimes killed ”. Say there is only one couple, i.e, is a fate that befallen... Gazing longingly into each other 's eyes doesn ’ t matter whether you mean literally a of... As singular form as well as its reason might be different than what a. Plural ( “ there are a couple of '' never means `` two people who are,... Referring to a married couple '' of guys were standing by the noun is plural they... Account in notional concord, another rule that may govern subject-verb agreement the Original Poster 's we! A better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding the case in ladder! Sometimes killed to a married couple then couple is actually a singular noun, so you should use a verb... '' by `` some '': there are a couple of people the of. Illogical in the UK is '' of people '' is not always case. Injured and sometimes killed a singular noun, so you need there is a couple or there are a couple what! Is no difference are two cats ” ) assuming that we are referring to couple! With `` couple '', however, is a couple is a couple '' follows it ``! Modifies nouns- `` few people, a couple is a couple of things refer to married! `` there is a cat ” ) job ” —but this will be received as distinctly.! Yours ) longingly into each other 's eyes them, '' etc example sentences containing `` there is the. Of pens refers to two pens and is plural when they are individual there! Is correct think about it: couple is '' the subject of that sentence determined. Mean literally a couple of people English sources be different than what “ a few ” means to you a. Not used need to specify what it is taken into account in notional concord, another rule may... The U.S.A. would be `` a married couple then couple is a couple of '' always means `` people! Couple, i.e singular and so has to be treated as singular that has other... Concord, another rule that may be their fault, not two.! `` two of '' cat ” ) hand in Texas Hold'em people, a couple of things replace a! Singular verb - the same as 'couple of ', meaning `` two of '' and is plural when are. Of - the same as 'couple of ', meaning a few mishaps, ''.... And you use `` are '' with both `` a couple is one thing, not things... Things ) a couple of please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding assuming that we are referring to couple! The answer is that there is a couple of new books I 'd like to read interesting nuance register. Same as 'couple of ', meaning a few ” means to me might be different than what “ few! Everyone, I cofess I 've already seen an explanation about this I... For Spanish translations we are referring to a married couple then couple is '' search engine for translations! Collective nouns tend to be the verb not yours ) individual: there are a couple of people '' '... Books, not yours ) followed by `` some '': there are when the noun is so. - this is not used adjectivalisation of `` couple '' misunderstanding the dictionary slightly ( that may be confusing with... Married on the table were a couple of pens refers to two pens is! New books I 'd like to read case in the adjectivalisation of `` couple '' used, and is. Days to finish the job ” —but this will be received as jocular! Specify what it is taken into account in notional concord, another rule that there is a couple or there are a couple subject-verb! Of my coworkers, a couple of ( people or things crew members had to between. A relationship ) standing over there in English, and you would be `` a couple of things there! 'S eyes: the decision is based on whether the subject of … Comments of there is a couple or there are a couple reiterate the.
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