In some uses, you can use couple without of:
- They are a couple.
- It is a retreat for couples.
In others, you cannot:
- I will list a couple of examples here.
- She has a couple of books in her house.
Here’s the key: replace couple with pair, and see if you need of:
- They are a pair.
- NOT: They are a pair of.
- It is a retreat for pairs.
- NOT: It is a retreat for pairs of.
- I will list a pair of examples here.
- NOT: I will list a pair examples here.
- She has a pair of books in her house.
- NOT: She has a pair books in her house. (We’ll disregard the fact that “couple” in this usage was probably not meant to be literal.)
End o’ the rant. Please carry on.
Related posts:
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
