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New2grammar Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

couple of seconds

I recently asked a question about 'a couple of' and got very good replies. The answer was 'of' must always follows 'a couple' in formal writing. I just want to confirm that the answer also applies to 'a couple [of] seconds'. As an example,

Peter: Hurry up! Mary. We're going to be late.

Mary: I'll be right out in a couple [of] seconds.

Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

New2grammar I recently asked a question about 'a couple of' and got very good replies. The answer was 'of' must always follows 'a couple' in formal writing. I just want to confirm that the answer also applies to 'a couple [of] seconds'.

— Anonymous

  • New2grammar I recently asked a question about 'a couple of' and got very good replies.
  • The answer was 'of' must always follows 'a couple' in formal writing.
  • I just want to confirm that the answer also applies to 'a couple [of] seconds'.
  • As an example, Peter: Hurry up!
  • Mary.
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6 Answers
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New2grammarI recently asked a question about 'a couple of' and got very good replies. The answer was 'of' must always follows 'a couple' in formal writing. I just want to confirm that the answer also applies to 'a couple [of] seconds'. As an example,

Peter: Hurry up! Mary. We're going to be late.

Mary: I'll be right out in a couple [of] seconds.
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New2grammarI recently asked a question about 'a couple of' and got very good replies. The answer was 'of' must always follows 'a couple' in formal writing. I just want to confirm that the answer also applies to 'a couple [of] seconds'. As an example,

Peter: Hurry up! Mary. We're going to be late.

Mary: I'll be right out in a couple [of] seconds.
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New2grammarI recently asked a question about 'a couple of' and got very good replies. The answer was 'of' must always follows 'a couple' in formal writing. I just want to confirm that the answer also applies to 'a couple [of] seconds'. As an example,

Peter: Hurry up! Mary. We're going to be late.

Mary: I'll be right out in a couple [of] seconds.
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so what about "Couples of seconds"? Is this correct?
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RevoSonso what about "Couples of seconds"? Is this correct?

Not correct.
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I'm sorry, but I don't agree. I can't speak for the rest of the world, but in the U.S., it's quite common to hear "I"ll be there in a couple seconds," or "it will only take a couple minutes."

Yes, we certainly do say "a couple of," or -- more precisely to how it sounds -- "a coupla," but the of can be completely missing and not sound odd.
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