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| What is a few? |
| 03.16.04 (9:58 am) [edit] |
|
Chris IMed me last night, and he was doing some work since his contract ended "in a few days." So I said, "I thought your contract was ending at the end of the month," and he said, "yeah, it is - in about two weeks." Then we got into our usual argument about definitions of a few and several, etc. To me... a couple is two (maybe three). A few is about 3. Anything more than three is several. I really don't think 15 days counts as several. Why not just say a couple of weeks? |
posted by: lynne (reply)
post date: 03.16.04 (12:06 pm)
A couple is two, it cant be three or one. Otherwise, all the other terms you mentioned are subjective. What they mean has everything to do with who says them and the context they are said in.
posted by: Cyberpal (reply)
post date: 03.16.04 (12:29 pm)
I agree with lynne, if your definition were right then it would only be subjective based on your thoughts of the words... he's wrong too by the way!! Anything above 2 is several..... I know, I'm just being a "Know it all" sorry **skulks off**
posted by: Ladyblog (reply)
post date: 03.16.04 (4:16 pm)
my husband and I argue about this all the time. A couple is two, a few is four or five, some is six or seven, several is eight or more. However to him a few minutes equals several hours... go figure!
And then theres the whole this week/next week argument! But I won't get into that! ;)
TTFN
posted by: Lizzy (reply)
post date: 03.16.04 (5:38 pm)
Lol! I have that same problem with people. *grin*
posted by: mblog (reply)
post date: 03.17.04 (10:03 am)
I think your definitions (aside from couple) are pretty good ones. Yes, they are subjective to a degree, but that doesn't mean that we can't use them consistently.
Several can be severed, so it should be more than one. But it can be one in some contexts. It's correct to use several to talk about each one of something as a several part.
But generally, several refers to an indefinite but small number. The dictionary can tell you that.
We have lots of subjective words in English, but that does not mean that we can use them beyond the bounds used by others without being questioned. A baby is a very young person by definition, and there is no age at which babydom ends. But few would use the word baby as a general word for a 15 year old, and few would think of 15 as several.
A couple of weeks is not a few days. Let him tell his boss that his project will be ready in a few days when it won't be done for a few weeks, and he will find himself with some explaining to do.
posted by: lynne (reply)
post date: 03.17.04 (11:11 am)
Reply to: mblog
"few would think of 15 as several"
...unless you are talking about donuts ;)
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