Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

learner12 · Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 730

Hello, teachers!!

If I say "I have a couple of pencils," what do you think?

(1) I have 2 pens.
(2) I have 2 or 3 pens.=I have few pens.
(3) both (2) and (3)

Thank you in advance.

Lorikeet · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1877 Location: San Francisco

Your question should say, "I have a few pens."

For me, it is always 2. However, I was corrected by someone else, looked it up in the dictionary, and was surprised to see that "a couple of" could mean more than 2.

From Dictionary.com:

"a couple of, more than two, but not many, of; a small number of; a few: It will take a couple of days for the package to get there. Also, a couple. "

myprofe · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:57 am Post subject: a couple = 2

For me a couple can only mean two.

Couple = Pair = 2

You can say I have few pens or a few pens.

Few/little tends to be negative while a few/a little tends to be positive.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

learner12 · Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 730

Dear Lorikeet:
Dear myprofe:

Thank you so much!! Your explanations dispelled my doubts about "a couple of."

I appreciated it.

Have a nice day!!