a couple baskets

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a couple baskets" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two or a few baskets, typically in a casual or informal context. Example: "I bought a couple baskets to organize my laundry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He had a couple baskets.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A couple of baskets on the other end enabled Dallas to move within 11 points, 58-47, at halftime.

The New York Times - Sports

If you're on a super tight budget, you could eat well from a couple of baskets of its delicious rosemary bread and a caprese salad ($7).

The New York Times - Travel

After four or five glasses of wine, I am able to overcome my usual food-finickiness and eat half a crock-pot of whatever my wife has made for dinner, and then a couple of baskets of leftover Easter candy.

The New Yorker

"In between his games, shooting a couple of baskets, he asks me, 'What about your pitching?' I said, 'Excuse me, you worry about national security, I'll worry about the pitching.' " Williams said he was invited to Obama's election-night event Tuesday in Chicago, but couldn't go because of these meetings.

The New York Times - Sports

"They got a couple easy baskets and it snowballed from there," Enfield said.

Los Angeles Times

We got back to the apartment later that afternoon with a couple bike baskets loaded with pork shoulder, hickory chips, cider vinegar, brown sugar, collards, cornmeal, and whatever else we needed.

Vice

Get a couple of baskets, one for books, one for writing stuff.

WikiHow

You will need a rag, sponges, a couple laundry baskets, garbage bags, storage bags or totes and your favorite household cleaners.

WikiHow

"I got a couple more easy baskets today," Williams said.

The New York Times - Sports

In one corner were a couple of wire baskets overflowing with manuscripts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a couple baskets" when you want to emphasize a small quantity, typically two, of baskets in a casual context. For larger quantities, consider "several" or "many".

Common error

Avoid using "a couple basket" when referring to more than one basket. "Couple" implies a plural context, so the noun should also be pluralized.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a couple baskets" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a determiner phrase modifying the noun "baskets". It quantifies the noun, indicating a small quantity, typically understood as two. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correctly used in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a couple baskets" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, predominantly used to indicate a small number of baskets, typically two. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. While more common in news and media sources, its informality makes it versatile for various contexts. Remember to use it when specifying a small quantity of baskets is needed, and consider more formal alternatives like "two baskets" in professional or academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a pair of baskets

Replaces "couple" with "pair", emphasizing the quantity of two.

two baskets

More directly states the quantity.

just a couple of baskets

Adds emphasis to the small quantity.

only a couple of baskets

Highlights the limited number of baskets.

a few baskets

A more general term for a small quantity.

a small number of baskets

More formally expresses the idea of a limited quantity.

several baskets

Indicates more than two, but still a small number.

some baskets

Indicates an indefinite, small quantity of baskets.

a brace of baskets

A more formal or archaic way to say two baskets.

a handful of baskets

Implies a small quantity that can be held in one or both hands.

FAQs

How can I use "a couple baskets" in a sentence?

You can use "a couple baskets" to describe a situation where there are two or a few baskets, such as, "We brought "a couple baskets" to carry the groceries".

What are some alternatives to saying "a couple baskets"?

Alternatives include "a pair of baskets", "two baskets", or "a few baskets" depending on the specific number and context.

Is it correct to say "a couple of basket" instead of "a couple baskets"?

No, it is not correct. The phrase "a couple of" implies plurality, so the noun should be plural: ""a couple baskets"" is correct.

In what contexts is "a couple baskets" most appropriate?

"A couple baskets" is suitable for informal or casual settings. In more formal writing, consider using "two baskets" or "a small number of baskets".