Several couples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Several couples" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to more than two pairs of people who are in a romantic relationship. Example: "Several couples attended the wedding, enjoying the celebration together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several couples took the floor.

The New Yorker

Several couples had been together for decades.

The New York Times

Several couples there, including his parents, planted a vineyard in the early 1990s.

The New York Times - Food

Several couples lamented the fact that they had never met another young gay married couple.

The New York Times - Magazine

Several couples caught on; others appeared more to be moving furniture than dancing an Argentine tango.

The New York Times

Several couples have also, ahem, "performed" for Street View cameras around the world.

Independent

Several couples danced onto the adjacent open-air pavilion overlooking Peconic Bay and Shelter Island, where several large speedboats were moored.

The New York Times

Several couples said they finally came up with a de facto division of labor, with one spouse focused on the sale and the other on the purchase.

The New York Times

Several couples who were waiting at City Hall for appointments to receive licenses were turned away, some of them in tears.

The New York Times

Several couples met in our home, determined to be different.

HuffPost

Several couples are shown removing their clothes, stripping down to their underwear, and proceeding to kiss and caress each other.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Several couples", ensure the context clearly establishes that you are referring to more than two pairs, as "several" implies a quantity greater than a few.

Common error

While "Several couples" is generally acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal or scientific writing where more precise quantifiers (e.g. "three couples", "a significant number of couples") might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Several couples" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI indicates its correct usage. Examples show it describing groups of people in relationships participating in activities or sharing experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Encyclopedias

12%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Several couples" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote more than two pairs of people in a relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While it appears most commonly in news and media, it also finds use in encyclopedic and scientific contexts. When writing, it's important to ensure clarity regarding the number implied by "several", and to consider more precise quantifiers for highly formal settings. Alternatives such as "multiple couples" or "a number of couples" can be used to vary expression while retaining semantic similarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Multiple couples

Replaces "several" with "multiple", emphasizing a quantity greater than two.

A number of couples

Substitutes "several" with "a number", indicating an unspecified quantity.

Various couples

Uses "various" instead of "several", highlighting the diversity among the couples.

Numerous couples

Employs "numerous" for "several", suggesting a large quantity of couples.

Many couples

A more general replacement for "several", indicating a large but unspecific number.

A few couples

Suggests a smaller quantity than "several", but still more than two.

Some couples

A less specific alternative to "several", indicating an indefinite quantity.

A handful of couples

Implies a small number of couples, easily counted.

A group of couples

Focuses on the couples as a collective, rather than individual pairs.

Couple pairs

Rephrases "several couples" to emphasize the paired nature of the individuals.

FAQs

How to use "Several couples" in a sentence?

"Several couples" can be used to describe groups of people in relationships, such as, "Several couples attended the event", or "Several couples were seen dancing".

What can I say instead of "Several couples"?

You can use alternatives like "multiple couples", "a number of couples", or "various couples" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "Several couple"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. "Several" implies more than one, so the correct form is the plural, "several couples".

What's the difference between "Several couples" and "A few couples"?

"Several couples" suggests a larger, less specific number than "a few couples". "A few" usually means three or four, while "several" implies more, but not necessarily a large quantity.