A couple (of) years

Question

Hi allThis is my first question at the forums so please don't judge too harsh ^^In the net, I saw the both variants of the phrase used a couple of years ago and a couple years ago. I am confused. What is correct?Waiting for your replies.

Debpriya De · Accepted Answer

Hi,

" a couple of years ago " is the right phrase.

MrPernickety · Answer

lfcforeverWhat is correct?

Both phrases are possible. "of" is optional here.

Kooyeen · Answer

Hi,
quoted from Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary (http://www.learnersdictionary.com):

a couple

informal 1 : two or a few of something

Note: In informal U.S. English, a couple can be used like a couple of before a plural noun. Ex: I lost interest in the book after a couple chapters.

So as MrPernikety said, both are ok, and "of" can be left out in informal American English (and maybe in British English too, but I'm not sure).

Ivanhr · Answer

Doesn't 'a couple (of) require a plural noun to follow???

KooyeenHi,

quoted from Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary (http://www.learnersdictionary.com):

a couple

informal 1 : two or a few of something

Note: In informal U.S. English, a couple can be used like a couple of before a plural noun. Ex: I lost interest in the book after a couple chapters.

MrPernickety · Answer

Kooyeen
So as MrPernikety said, both are ok, and "of" can be left out in informal American English (and maybe in British English too, but I'm not sure).

Yeah, I remember Amy's advice. If my memory serves me right, she advised me to use "a couple" without "of" in informal conversation

As far as British English is concerned, I guess Mr. Pedantic and Clive know best.

Optilang · Answer

Hi

I would always use 'of' in the given example - 'a couple of years ago'

Dimsumexpress · Answer

This is my take:

"A couple" can mean:

Two persons considered as joined together, as a married or engaged pair, lovers, or dance partners: They make a handsome couple.

Any two persons considered together.

"A couple of " is an idiomatic expression meaning more than two, but not many, a small number of; a few.

The new paint will take a couple of hours to dry. This suggests at least 2 no more than 3.

For all my American life, I've only learned to use the expression with "of". It souns wrong to me wthout it, although it's considered correct.

CalifJim · Answer

I don't recommend omitting of in a couple of ....

The first slip into "lower class English" is the omission of the "v" sound in "of": couple o' (cuppul uh).

But by the time you leave out the whole word "of", you've sunk to the bottom. No nice people will talk to you, and you will probably be shunned for life.

Just teasing!

Or am I?

CJ

Dimsumexpress · Answer

CalifJim
The first slip into "lower class English" is the omission of the "v" sound in "of": couple o' (cup pul uh).

But by the time you leave out the whole word "of", you've sunk to the bottom. No nice people will talk to you, and you will probably be shunned for life.

Well said Jim,

It seems as though this kind of "urban" English is becoming more and more accepted as the "norm" today even among people who have college education. Expressions like "he don't care", or "much more better" are used and spoken by non-natives and natives alike. It's like any bad habit, once it takes hold in our life, it's hard to get rid of. The only antidode to having to deal with substandard English is to never start using it.

Yankee · Answer

This thread brings "a cuppa" to mind. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/39.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/39.gif' alt='Emotion: coffee'/>

A couple (of) years

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