May 6, 2012 · A couple - usually and mainly two, never less than two, but sometimes, 'not more than about 5%' of the total. A couple is very small relative to the total number possible. A few - a distinct minority, it is slightly more than a couple but probably less than 15% of the total. A few is small relative to the total number possible.

Dec 15, 2008 · Taken literally, A couple always means two. I would say that to use the word "couple" to mean "a few" is non-standard, or even grammatically incorrect. Sometimes English speakers may use an expression like "I'll just be a couple of (2) minutes ", when what they really mean is, "I won't take a very long time."

Jun 5, 2012 · For me a couple of is not exactly two. It means approximately 2, sometimes 3, or even 4. Few is not the same as a few. Few means not many, fewer than expected. But all the figures given are not hard and fast. They depend on the context. A few countries in the world can be 10 or 20. Several countries can be 40 or 50. And a few stars can be over ...

Mar 3, 2014 · On the next few days we travelled a lot. We saw some amazing sights and enjoyed our trip. In the next few days we will travel a lot. We will see some amazing sights and enjoy our trip. Am I right in assuming that the tense somehow dictates the preposition at the beginning?

Mar 31, 2014 · I would understand "in the coming days" and "in the next few days" to mean roughly the same thing, "within the next 3-7 days" perhaps. The statement is vague for a reason, as a specific number of days is unknown. Personally I don't see that "in the next few days" necessarily indicates fewer days than "in the coming days."

Nov 4, 2012 · Hello! What's the correct way of saying it? I've been absent from school for the last few days. or I've been absent from school for the past few days. Or can they be used interchangably? Thank you!

Feb 24, 2015 · Literally, "couple" means two, but (at least in AE), "a couple of" is pretty widely used informally to refer to two or three of something. In referring to four or more, we tend to say "a few". AntiScam

Jan 22, 2020 · (1) Over the previous few days, I stopped photocopying my business documents because my photocopier was broken. I got a new one this morning, so now I can make copies again. (2) Over the last few days, I have stopped photocopying my business documents because my photocopier has been broken. I will get a new one soon.

Jul 6, 2006 · A couple of birds, a couple of drinks, a couple of humans... they all mean "2 of (something)". It may be evolving into the same pattern as "a few drinks", "a few humans", but that is not where it started. Its origin is the same of "a pair of". No one says "He had a …

Apr 14, 2009 · "Up in Alaska: Escaped for a couple hours" (in a headline) "I just colored my hair a couple hours ago and I hate the color that came out" "First day on ship: A couple hours in classroom and 2 dives in an 8' pool"(in a schedule)" "I think that it is really sad that people play video games for longer than an couple hours a day."