a couple of

a couple of — idiom

1. used to mean exactly two people or things, where the number two is a specific fa

1.慣用語A2
釋義

used to mean exactly two people or things, where the number two is a specific fact that matters to what you are saying.

例句

Mateo bought a couple of tickets for the concert on Saturday night.

a couple of + plural noun for exact count

I only need a couple of eggs to finish this cake recipe.

同義詞
  • a pair of

    Always means exactly two, often used for matching or paired items (e.g. a pair of shoes)

  • two

    No article needed; blunter and more direct

文法句型

a couple of + plural noun

用法筆記

The noun after "of" is always plural. This sense is common when the speaker is counting or listing specific items and the number two is meaningful.

常見錯誤

❌She brought a couple of water.
✅She brought a couple of bottles of water.
💡'a couple of' must be followed by a plural countable noun, not an uncountable noun.
❌He bought a couple of apples and then ate three.
✅He bought two apples and then ate both.
💡If the speaker later mentions three, the first phrase was inaccurate; use 'a couple of' only when the intended number is two.

2. a small number of people or things — usually two or three, used when the exact c

2.慣用語A2
釋義

a small number of people or things — usually two or three, used when the exact count does not matter and you are being deliberately vague.

例句

We stopped at a couple of shops on the way to the train station.

vague number: a couple of + plural noun for a small, unspecified count

Sahil will be away for a couple of days visiting his family in the south.

同義詞
  • a few

    Slightly broader — can mean 3-5 — and does not specifically suggest two

  • several

    Usually suggests 4-6 rather than 2-3, and sounds slightly more formal

反義詞
  • many

    Refers to a large number, opposite of a small vague quantity

文法句型

a couple of + plural noun

用法筆記

In everyday spoken English this is the more common sense. The speaker is not committed to the exact number — the listener understands that the quantity is small and roughly around two or three. Distinguish from sense 1 (EXACTLY TWO), where the speaker is asserting that the number is precisely two.

常見錯誤

❌I have read a couple of books, maybe fifty in total.
✅I have read quite a few books, maybe fifty in total.
💡'a couple of' implies roughly 2-3; for a significantly larger number, choose 'quite a few' or 'many.'