[English Q&A] Couple vs. Couple Of

• COUPLE

(n.) refers to a pair - generally, two people who are married, engaged, or in a romantic relationship.

Eg. The young couple fell in love at first sight.

• COUPLE OF

(n.) two or a few things that are similar or the same, or two or a few people who are in some way connected, a pair

Eg. He managed to get a couple of hours of sleep.

We should use the phrase a "couple of" when we are meaning to express a grouping of roughly two or three (or more), as opposed to "couple" which only conveys a pair or only two.

We use a "couple of" very consistently to how we use a "few of".

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