I don't remember when it was (I listen mostly on podcasts) but someone had called in to ask a question about "a couple, few and several."
The caller said his family translated it this way. Couple was 2, a few was 5 because it sounded like the word five and several was 7 because it sounded like seven. I could not believe that Martha and Grant didn't disagree with him. What do you translate these words to mean?
I have polled a several people and we have all agreed upon the following:
Couple - 2
Few - 3 or 4, but usually 3
Several - 5 to 8
sara said:
I have polled a several people and we have all agreed upon the following:
Couple - 2
Few - 3 or 4, but usually 3
Several - 5 to 8
To me "several" is 3 to 5 or so, and "few" could be any amount depending on what it's a few of. A few American are over 100 years old -- maybe 96k.
a couple = a pair
a few = a bunch
several = a passel
mkh13 said:
a couple = a pair
a few = a bunch
several = a passel
I think of a bunch as like several, being somewhat less than a bundle, which in turn is somewhat less than a passel. A passel is more like a scad.
A million years ago in school, I was taught the following:
couple = two
few = 3 to 5
several = 6+