A FEW vs. A COUPLE vs. SEVERAL
いくらかの VS. 2,3の、2つの VS. 数個の、数人の

HOME>Word Master®>A FEW vs. A COUPLE vs. SEVERAL いくらかの VS. 2,3の、2つの VS. 数個の、数人の

Welcome to another "hump" Wednesday (If you don't remember why Wednesday is called "the hump", see the Greeting for the 6 June 2000 WordMaster)! It should help you through the day to know that March -- the month of spring's happy return -- is just a couple of days away! 

"How many are a couple?" 

We're glad you asked...


A few means some or a small number of things.

A couple means a few, especially two.

Several means a few, especially more than three but fewer than many.

* See the 2 December 2000 WordMaster,"A FEW vs. (ONLY A) FEW"

a few は、いくらかの、少数のという意味です。

a couple も、いくらかの、少数のという意味ですが、特に2つという意味でよく使われます。

several も、いくらかの、少数のという意味ですが、3より多いが多数ではない場合に使います。

* 2000/12/2のWordMaster "A FEW vs. (ONLY A) FEW" 参照
 
 
1.Could you lend me a few dollars for lunch?
2.a:Are there any blank CDs left?
b:I think there are a few in my middle desk drawer.
3.a:Would you like some mints?
b:I'll take one, thanks.
a:Why not take a couple?
4.a:Have you seen "Star Wars"?
b:I've seen it several times. It's one of my favorite movies.
5.I had to wait several hours to be seen by a doctor.
6.It'll be several months yet before it's warm enough to swim at the beaches along the Japan Sea coast.
Enjoy the rest of your day!

今日の WordMaster はいかがでしたか。同じカテゴリーの言葉をもっとご覧になりたい方はこちらまで:Commonly Confused Words