Previous: This is where things tend to get confusing. I asked various people how much they thought the words «some» referred to it. Their responses varied. Some insisted that «some» meant three and only three. Some have said it means three or four. Or maybe more. The answer is that there is no fixed answer. What «some» means to me might be different from what «some» means to you. So if you tell someone you`ll be there «in a few minutes,» you might both understand that it means less than five minutes, but one of you might mean a little longer. And someone who wants to borrow «a few dollars» from you might just want three or four dollars. But maybe not. Of the two, a few are more flexible.

Most people would probably agree that although a few are commonly used interchangeably, a few refer to higher amounts than a pair more often. A pair is usually a small number, while some may be higher depending on the context, scope, and expectations of what is being discussed. In three previous articles (here, here, and here), I`ve touched on some often confusing words and how to choose the one that expresses what you really mean. Talking about these messages with friends inspired him to make: What is the difference between a couple, some, some, several or many? For example, if someone tells you you have a few options, how many do you have? Three? Four? More? It is possible for some people to say a couple when they want to say two or even three, but then switch to a couple when they mean three or four or more. But there is no «right» definition – each use differs without the meaning being too misinterpreted. The distinction in the definitions seems to refer to the specific region, region or place where you attended primary school. Words were taught this way. A couple was 2. A few were 3 to 4. Several were considered a vague term, with 4 to 8 being the accepted meaning. A dozen were 12, 13 or 14 years old at a farmer`s market. It could be combined with pairs, few and several dozen to give a general estimate.

Some and a group, as well as a group or several, could only be defined in the competition used with a group, and many considered more. We all know that a bubbler and not a fountain is the right term for the fixture or unit, usually in a public space from where you get a glass of water. A fountain is a place where coins are thrown. Yes, I live in Wisconsin. Every day, without thinking about it, we all refer to quantities without giving a figure. Most often we do this using terms such as few, one pair and several. Many people have strong opinions about what each of these terms means – and what it doesn`t. But I hope to be able to play it at least a few times, and more importantly, hear it play repeatedly. A pair is generally considered to be between two and many. Some people use a few to mean about three, but this is not a universal interpretation.

Its importance is very relative to context – it often depends on what is being discussed, especially scope and expectations. Subscribe to America`s largest dictionary and get thousands of other definitions and an advanced search – ad-free! That`s what I learned. I didn`t learn much, but I did learn a few. This is EXACTLY what I was taught! In fact, it bothers me that it doesn`t seem to be a well-known thing and that it is used so vaguely that it is widely misinterpreted when used correctly. I`ve gotten to the point where when I start a new job/relationship (boyfriend or not), at some point I clarify the definition so we can be on the same page. It`s nice to find someone who knows and confirms what I`ve been taught. You all know what to send Matt for April Fool`s Day next year. Slap them on a postcard and run! One pair means two. A few means a small number. («I have less than you»/»they are few») Several, according to his dictionary definition, means «more than two, but not many,» so a few, but not a pair.

And some, according to the dictionary, mean «an unspecified quantity or number.» I know this is an older comment, but what is regular coffee if not with cream and sugar? Neither does black coffee. I don`t know if there are terms just for sugar or just cream. I just had a discussion about it and after researching what these words really mean, I was confused. My thought (all these long years) is that 2 is a pair, a couple is 3 and several meant 7 or more (it seemed to me that the first 4 letters seve gave it). Everything else was a number. Perhaps the father described what he meant when he said, «I`ll be home in a few minutes.» This means that he will be home in 3-26 minutes, but not in a full half hour. 🙂 So the bottom line seems to be: «a pair» is usually interpreted with some precision to mean «two.» «Many» is the maximum, but an indeterminate amount. If you`re looking for accuracy, you might want to list a specific number. For example, there are five reasons why the decision of the trial court should be overturned. That is pretty clear.

However, if you want some wiggle room, you can use «some,» «some,» or «many,» but be aware that you and your listener or reader may have different views on what these terms mean. In Korea, Korean English classes throughout the country – or at least in the southern half – officially cover this topic. That`s because it`s in what`s being investigated in CSAT, which is like the Korean version of SAT, but is regulated and enforced by the government as the main standard for universities to nominate candidates (with much better quality questions, but still with terrible results as the main standard of everything). The best analogy I`ve read so far. Well done! (My husband wanted to be a diver at USN. It was an aquatic beetle (surfers and swim teams). I don`t remember exactly what came out of it, I think it had something to do with his people or his commander holding him, I don`t remember the reason. Barton, my husband and two boys sat down at the Taco Bell in Palm Bay, Florida, and discussed this argument at length. I pulled out my trusty smartphone and we started to reduce our disagreements.

Then, by a stroke of luck, we stumbled upon your story. We want you to know that we have chosen to accept your definitions based on the circumstances in which they were adopted. Blessings and «many» thanks. One of the criticisms that lexicographers regularly hear is that people don`t use words accurately or accurately. However, many of these complaints are guided by the assumption that we are the ones who should apply the exact usage (and not what we really do, which is to record the actual use of words, even if that usage is considered incorrect, loose or otherwise .. muddy). A couple: Everyone seems to agree that «one couple» means two. If you have a few options, you can assume that you will have to choose between A and B and only A and B. For things that are less easily counted (like time), the boundaries are blurred because there is the additional imprecision of the measurement. I will arrive in a few minutes could easily cover 10-15 minutes, but 20 would stretch it.

But if you asked your dad if you could have friends to watch the game, he wouldn`t be happy if 15 friends showed up. In this context, even «several friends» would probably not allow you to exceed 10 years. You will have a few drinks. How many are there a couple?. We can confirm that there were more than two letters following Steele`s claim. The «few days» here describe two completely different numerical quantities. The King James Bible uses «a few days» to mark a person`s lifespan in relation to eternity; The excerpt from The Egypt Game seems to refer to the small number of days that have passed since the visitor`s arrival and the presence of the story. In no case can you say definitively that few refer to a number between, say, 3 and 10. In occasional use, a pair and a few are often used interchangeably to denote a small but non-specific number of things. A pair is often interpreted more strictly than two, or at least about two, maybe three or four, depending on the context.