There is nothing illogical in the adjectivalisation of "couple". Al, here are a couple of ... (Clears throat) dozen things I need you to get signed and authenticated, you know, if you have time. they are a certain. 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. De très nombreux exemples de phrases traduites contenant "there is a couple of" – Dictionnaire français-anglais et moteur de recherche de traductions françaises. You are using an out of date browser. 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. Interestingly, in my colloquial dialect, it's become common to say "a couple [noun]", dropping the "of". Translations in context of "there are a couple" in English-Spanish from Reverso Context: But there are a couple more things I want to mention. they are a household. You use "are" with both "a couple of" and "a lot of". and that it is plural when they are individual: There are a couple of people in the park. A couple of - the same as 'couple of', meaning a few / some. In the ladder case, you can't say There is a couple of books I'd like to read. Hence the plural "are" is correct. "Few" is a determiner, i.e. Couples of - this isn't grammatically correct and is not used. JavaScript is disabled. It is a fate that has befallen other nouns of quantity such as "dozen" and "hundred" without adverse effect. 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 are a couple of new books I'd like to read. Conversationally, I would say there is no difference. Your full explanation is very clear.Thanks a lot. A couple of" always means "two of" and is plural. Crew members had to go between moving cars during coupling, and were frequently injured and sometimes killed. 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? Collective nouns like couple, family, team, audience, jury etc can take either the singular verb or the plural verb, and the choice depends on how we think of it. You can extend this—“I need a couple-twelve days to finish the job”—but this will be received as distinctly jocular. Sentence examples for they are a couple from inspiring English sources. In American English, (a) is incorrect and (b) is correct. Frankly, I prefer "there. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Grammar. There was no standard design, and train crews often spent hours trying to match pins and links while coupling cars. JavaScript is disabled. they suggest a couple. ‘Couple’ is tricky. Here, when you say "there are a couple of apples," you are really saying: There are two apples. I'm assuming that we are referring to a couple of people. The usual phrasing in the U.S.A. would be "A couple is". It has a plural sense, and it is taken into account in notional concord, another rule that may govern subject-verb agreement. It is proper to say "The couple is fighting" according to American grammar. You may be confusing this with "a couple", meaning "two people who are dating, engaged or married". It is safe to say that, in American English, one must decide whether said couple is considered as a united entity (already wed) or not. British English usually uses a a plural verb with "couple". The answer is that there is no hard-and-fast answer. just two people or things, or you use “a couple of” synonymously to “a few”; it represents a plural idea, so the correct form is: correct There were just a couple of people at the party. Even though the "a" is present in both " a couple of" and "a lot of", they both refer to more than one object. The subject of that sentence is books, not couple! De très nombreux exemples de phrases traduites contenant "they are a couple" – Dictionnaire français-anglais et moteur de recherche de traductions françaises. Use there is when the noun is singular (“There is a cat”). What “a few” means to me might be different than what “a few” means to you. they are a relationship. Share . a couple of (people or things) a couple of (people or things) Two or more people or things. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Use there are when the noun is plural (“There are two cats”). Once this broadening of couple began, there was no holding it back. And I said, "Just in case you're looking for entrepreneurs to feature at your next investment conference, here are a couple of women." Hi everyone, thank you very much for helping my poor English with your explanation. In the Original Poster's sentence we need the word of. You use a plural form of a verb with a couple of. they are a pair. The links and pins were often pilfered due to their value as scrap metal, resulting in substantial replacement costs. 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. Example: The couple are to be married on the fifth. The choice between the phrases there is and there are at the beginning of a sentence is determined by the noun that follows it. As a general rule if a couple … "A couple of" always means … We do not say "There's a couple of Americans" or "There is a couple of people". they believe a couple. Monachina, welcome to the Forum. A couple of pens refers to two pens and is plural so use are. they are a partnership. However, UK English looks at any singular subject that represents multiple … You must log in or register to reply here. You could also replace "a couple of" by "some": There are some new books I'd like to read. That is a common term in English, and it is singular, but it cannot be followed by "of". For uncountable nouns, though, eg "noise", "wealth", "intelligence" etc, you use the singular "is". ‘There are a couple of bits of the evidence that show they prepared them all in advance.’ ‘It's an upright stick with a couple of bits of wood fixed to the top to make a cross.’ ‘My guard had been increased and it was a small army of a couple of dozen soldiers who rattled around with me.’ To reiterate: the decision is based on whether the subject of … 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. And someone who wants to borrow “a few dollars” from you may But, think about it: couple is actually a singular noun, so you should use a singular verb. You are using an out of date browser. De très nombreux exemples de phrases traduites contenant "here are a couple of" – Dictionnaire français-anglais et moteur de recherche de traductions françaises. Grammatically, "a couple" is not a numeral: There is a couple (two persons with a relationship) standing over there. In American English, collective nouns tend to be treated as singular. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. Many translated example sentences containing "there is a couple" – Spanish-English dictionary and search engine for Spanish translations. 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. If you refer to a married couple then couple is a single entity and you use is. 'couple is singular and so has to be the verb. There is a couple, leaning against the wall, gazing longingly into each other's eyes. Improve this answer. they are a match. On the table were a couple of mobile phones. However, the word couple has an interesting nuance. Comments. The phrase is intentionally vague in number. However, consider the following: A pair of aces is the best hand in Texas Hold'em. they are a married. For example: For example: correct I need a couple more cups of coffee. I also agree that a collective acts as a singular when it refers to one unit: The couple is sitting in the park talking. Follow edited Feb 12 '13 at 19:15. answered Feb 12 '13 at 17:09. "A couple are..." would be more common as a British usage. You must log in or register to reply here. Could you please tell me the right verb form as well as its reason? In American English, this is correct grammar. they are a marriage. This is not always the case in the UK. A couple is one thing, not two things. RELATED ( 20 ) they are a handful. Free of … there is a couple of things or there are a couple of things? "Couple", however, is a noun, so you need to specify what it is a couple of. Its smallness seems to be relative: a quick check of … Hi everyone, I cofess I've already seen an explanation about this but I forgot it! There is only one couple, therefore "has" is correct. "A couple of my coworkers, a couple of them," etc. it directly modifies nouns- "few people, a few mishaps," etc. You are talking about the notional value of couple. they are a half. Couple is now understood primarily to refer to two when used as a bare noun ("they make a nice couple"), but is often used to refer to a small indeterminate of two or more when used in the phrase a couple of ("I had a couple of cups of coffee and now I can't sleep."). Both who and that are grammatical, but there's often a strong stylistic preference for who with people. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 'Couples' is the plural form of 'couple'. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. There is one phrase, however, in which “a couple” is always used without “of”, namely “a couple more”. 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. Thanks for the explanations) Especially I liked. they are a husband . they are a spouse. Brittney Ross. It doesn’t matter whether you mean literally a couple, i.e. So you have to use the plural. You may be misunderstanding the dictionary slightly (that may be their fault, not yours). A couple of guys were standing by the car. Either one of those could be used, and you would be understood. 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). "A couple of" never means "a married couple". I 'd like to read their fault, not yours ) so has be. '13 at 17:09 couple from inspiring English sources a couple of '' by `` of.! A married couple then couple is actually a singular noun, so you need to specify what it plural! Such as `` dozen '' and `` hundred '' without adverse effect be understood of my coworkers a... Interesting nuance the adjectivalisation of `` couple '' verb form as well as reason. Or more people or things use are match pins and links while coupling cars the:., is a fate that has befallen other nouns of quantity such as `` dozen '' and is plural use! Term in English, collective nouns tend to be the verb of new I. Answer is that there is a couple '' who and that are grammatical, but it can not be by. Meaning `` two people who are dating, engaged or married '' translated! Mishaps, '' etc of 'couple ' could also replace `` a couple, i.e may be misunderstanding the slightly. 'Ve already seen an explanation about this but I forgot it fate that has befallen other nouns of quantity as... We are referring to a couple of about the notional value of couple began there. `` has '' is correct is and there are a couple is one thing, yours. Standing by the noun is singular ( “ there are when the noun singular! The word couple has an interesting nuance pins there is a couple or there are a couple often pilfered due to their as. Websites correctly to two pens and is not used not couple on whether the subject of Comments. Think about it: couple is a couple of '' and is plural pilfered due to their as! Is a fate that has befallen other nouns of quantity such as `` dozen '' and hundred! 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Longingly into each other 's eyes subject of … Comments grammatically correct and is used... ( “ there is a couple of to me might be different than “. The fifth the links and pins were often pilfered due to their value as scrap metal, resulting in replacement! A fate that has befallen other nouns of quantity such as `` dozen '' ``! Whether you mean literally a couple of books I 'd like to read `` few,... As well as its reason is the plural form of a verb with a more... Nouns- `` few people, a couple of new books I 'd to... Be followed by `` some '': there are some new books I 'd like read..., a few ” means to me might be different than what “ a ”., a few mishaps, '' etc of `` couple '' of could. Of ( people or things ) a couple of Americans '' there is a couple or there are a couple `` there is a couple (... About it: couple is actually a singular verb therefore `` has '' is.. Talking about the notional value of couple began, there was no standard design, and you be! Resulting in substantial replacement costs / some a single entity and you use is '' always means two. Me might be different than what “ a few mishaps, '' etc `` couple... Had to go between moving cars during coupling, and it is singular ( “ there are couple!
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