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"a couple of" or "a couple" ?
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Topic: "a couple of" or "a couple" ? (Read 3156 times)
Victor
Hero Member
Posts: 1341
"a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
on:
June 16, 2009, 03:26:01 AM »
Lend me a couple of bucks
-- I always use this one
Lend me a couple bucks
Which is right ? Gramatically , I mean. The first sounds right when speaking but I've seen people use the second form at times...
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Joe Mynhardt
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Posts: 5966
Tales from The Darkest Depths
Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #1 on:
June 16, 2009, 03:53:58 AM »
Hi, Victor.
I would say the first one is correct when it comes to grammar.
The second one you can use in speech within a story, as it gives more of a human personality to your character.
Like someone who regulargy spunges money from his buddies.
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Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #2 on:
June 16, 2009, 04:00:20 AM »
I would say the first one Victor.
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bonitakale
Sr. Member
Posts: 497
Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #3 on:
June 16, 2009, 04:42:09 PM »
Yup, 'a couple of' is right. But more and more you hear -- and read -- the other. Give it a generation or so . . .
Bonita
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Hugh
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Posts: 1693
Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #4 on:
June 17, 2009, 04:07:42 PM »
Depends on whether you are writing US or UK English.
Americans tend to say "A couple ..."
Brits say " A couple of ..."
Hugh
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Nick
Nick Daws
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Posts: 5922
Retired from running MWC but still writing!
Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #5 on:
June 17, 2009, 04:38:48 PM »
I think 'lend me a couple bucks' is an elision - the word 'of' is understood and therefore omitted. You could therefore argue that this is a more efficient use of language.
American English typically makes more use of elision than UK English. Another example would be 'What you gonna do?' where both 'are' and 'going to' are elided.
Nick
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Victor
Hero Member
Posts: 1341
Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #6 on:
June 18, 2009, 03:49:10 AM »
Quote
Another example would be 'What you gonna do?' where both 'are' and 'going to' are elided.
Don't forget " I'ma"....a contraction of the already contracted "I'm gonna"...
Similarly we have, a half hour vs half an hour....what's that story, anyone please ?
«
Last Edit: June 18, 2009, 04:15:26 AM by Victor
»
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And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. -ECCLESIASTES 1:17
fire-fly
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Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #7 on:
June 18, 2009, 04:16:34 AM »
I would say the first one Victor but here in Oz its "lend me a coupla bucks.
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Victor
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Posts: 1341
Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #8 on:
June 18, 2009, 04:18:44 AM »
coupla bucks
is everywhere....It's just a variation of "couple of" ,I guess, in the sense both sound the same
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And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. -ECCLESIASTES 1:17
pb
Hero Member
Posts: 778
Re: "a couple of" or "a couple" ?
«
Reply #9 on:
June 18, 2009, 01:07:59 PM »
yeh yeh blah de blah
are you gonna lend me the cash or wot
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"a couple of" or "a couple" ?