How many do you think when you see these words?

[CheertheDead]

When people say "I got a couple."
How many do you think they got?

The same for

• Some
• Several
• A number
• A few
• A good number
• A group
• Many

 

[Representing_Tromba]

A couple means two of something. A few means three of something. If they say they have a couple of something then I would think that they have two of whatever it is. If they say that have a few then I would think that they have three of whatever it is.

Some and several are fairly vague but they could mean between 2 and 5. A number is also fairly vague but I think it would be 5 -10 and a good number would be 10+ in my opinion. A group would probably be 2-6 but I'm not sure.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

When people say "I got a couple."
How many do you think they got?

The same for

• Some
• Several
• A number
• A few
• A good number
• A group

• A couple=2
• Some=3
• Several=4
• A number=5
• A few=3
• A good number=8
• A group=10

 

[NotaNuffian]

• A couple = 2
• Some = vaguely at 3~5
• Several = bigger than 5 but no more than 10
• A number = same as several
• A few = 3 ~ 4
• A good number = ??? Like picturing between 3 to a big number like 23.
• A group = ???
• Many = more than 10

I suck at imagining vague quantifications

 

[Kenjona]

Couple = 2

Now to the vaguely worded words, used to obscure the exact number you think it is.

Normally Few is used to mean 3-5; However "If I can borrow a few dollars/bucks/quid", they might mean 3 or 4 or even 5, but could also intend for it to be 20, they just do not want to directly ask for an exact amount as they might get that exact amount and no more. "There will be a few people at the party" they do not know the exact number but it could be up to 10+. "I will be home in a few minutes" could be 3-4 or it could be anything less than a half an hour. "I have a few questions", could be two or more depending on how many they do actually ask, they probably do not know how many questions they will be asking so use few instead of an exact number.


Some is more than a few, but can be only a few or much more than that.

Several is more than Some, but not by much and can be interchangeable in amount to Some.

Many an indicator that you have what is a lot of whatever. But still could be as much as a few or however as many as someone wants.

• Some More than a few less than several.
• Several More than some less than Some
• A number some vague amount more than several
• A few less than some more than a couple
• A good number more than a number
• A group a distinct gathering of whatever number that is more than a few, could be up to a good number or even more.

All the above are vague description of numbers meaning that you are not giving an exact count of something. They all could mean 3+ depending on who is talking and what they are trying to convey.

 

[Jemini]

A couple means two of something. A few means three of something. If they say they have a couple of something then I would think that they have two of whatever it is. If they say that have a few then I would think that they have three of whatever it is.

Some and several are fairly vague but they could mean between 2 and 5. A number is also fairly vague but I think it would be 5 -10 and a good number would be 10+ in my opinion. A group would probably be 2-6 but I'm not sure.

Yes, "a couple" does mean exactly 2. However, "a few" is not tied down to an exact number.

The term "a few" basically translates to "less than the most relevant or typical 10s place or 10s multiple for whatever is being discussed."

So, if I were to say I picked up a few rocks, you can't really hold that many rocks. So, it probably means less than 10.

In a children's song, there is talk about animals eating peanuts, and there's a line "the elephants will eat quite a few." This is probably talking about less than 50 or so.

If you are talking about the scattered few among the believers in a dead religion, you are probably talking less than 1,000. (That's quite likely the largest number you could ever stretch the term "a few" to mean, but it is still perfectly applicable in that exact situation.)

The overwhelming majority of uses of this term will refer to less than 10, but there are the uncommon scenarios where it could be referring to quite a bit more depending on the context, and it is usually in terms of the most appropriate 10s place or multiple of 10 you would find relevant to whatever's being described.

 

[Minx]

When people say "I got a couple."
How many do you think they got?

A couple is literally couple—two people.

 

[Maze_Runner]

I would say a few. Like I have a couple of dogs, a couple of skittles left, maybe like 2-4?

 

[CupcakeNinja]

Yes, "a couple" does mean exactly 2. However, "a few" is not tied down to an exact number.

The term "a few" basically translates to "less than the most relevant or typical 10s place or 10s multiple for whatever is being discussed."

So, if I were to say I picked up a few rocks, you can't really hold that many rocks. So, it probably means less than 10.

In a children's song, there is talk about animals eating peanuts, and there's a line "the elephants will eat quite a few." This is probably talking about less than 50 or so.

If you are talking about the scattered few among the believers in a dead religion, you are probably talking less than 1,000. (That's quite likely the largest number you could ever stretch the term "a few" to mean, but it is still perfectly applicable in that exact situation.)

The overwhelming majority of uses of this term will refer to less than 10, but there are the uncommon scenarios where it could be referring to quite a bit more depending on the context, and it is usually in terms of the most appropriate 10s place or multiple of 10 you would find relevant to whatever's being described.

yall are thinking way too deeply about this

 

[Ludovide]

A couple means two. However I have always taken it to mean 2-3. If I said "it'll take me a couple of weeks to read this book." I usually mean 2-3. I was honestly shocked when I learned other people only mean 2 when they say a couple. I have no idea how I learned the wrong definition for couple.

 

[CheertheDead]

A couple means two. However I have always taken it to mean 2-3. If I said "it'll take me a couple of weeks to read this book." I usually mean 2-3. I was honestly shocked when I learned other people only mean 2 when they say a couple. I have no idea how I learned the wrong definition for couple.

Me too.

When I studied English, people said all of these things are basically the same.

 

[georgelee5786]

When people say "I got a couple."
How many do you think they got?

The same for

• Some
• Several
• A number
• A few
• A good number
• A group
• Many

A couple technically means 2, but the amount for the other words listed changes from person to person

 

[Ai-chan]

Two. If someone says a couple but actually means 4, Ai-chan will automatically assume that person tried or is trying to cheat Ai-chan.

 

[Kenjona]

Yes, "a couple" does mean exactly 2. However, "a few" is not tied down to an exact number.

The term "a few" basically translates to "less than the most relevant or typical 10s place or 10s multiple for whatever is being discussed."

So, if I were to say I picked up a few rocks, you can't really hold that many rocks. So, it probably means less than 10.

In a children's song, there is talk about animals eating peanuts, and there's a line "the elephants will eat quite a few." This is probably talking about less than 50 or so.

If you are talking about the scattered few among the believers in a dead religion, you are probably talking less than 1,000. (That's quite likely the largest number you could ever stretch the term "a few" to mean, but it is still perfectly applicable in that exact situation.)

The overwhelming majority of uses of this term will refer to less than 10, but there are the uncommon scenarios where it could be referring to quite a bit more depending on the context, and it is usually in terms of the most appropriate 10s place or multiple of 10 you would find relevant to whatever's being described.

A few hundred, a few billions, a few quadrillions and so on. :)

yall are thinking way too deeply about this

We're bored.

 

[Jemini]

A few hundred, a few billions, a few quadrillions and so on. :)

Ok, now that's just cheating.