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leslie
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 244
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 Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject: a couple of weeks |
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Hi,
I have a question to ask. Does 'a couple of weeks' mean '2 weeks' or 'several weeks'?
Thanks!
Leslie
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Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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leslie
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 244
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Loreekit,
Thank you for your answer. Can't it mean 'a few' or 'serveral'? Collins Cubuild defines it 'two or approximately two of them, although the exact number is not important or you're not sure of it'. If I write the sentence--I will be visiting you in a couple of days. Does it have to mean 'I'll be visiting you two days later."' Can't it mean 'I'll be visiting you a few days later.'? Need to be confirmed. Thanks once again.
Leslie
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Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:54 am Post subject: |
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Yes, it can mean either precisely 2 or about 2, depending on how specific the speaker intends to be.
A few is perhaps a synonym, but several is too many to be the same as a couple of, I think.
.
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