there is a couple of vs there are a couple of

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'There is a couple of' is used when referring to a singular couple, while 'There are a couple of' is used when referring to multiple couples. The choice between 'is' and 'are' depends on the number of couples being discussed.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 2648 views

This phrase is correct when referring to a singular couple.

"there is a couple of "

Use 'there is a couple of' when you are talking about one couple. The singular verb 'is' matches the singular noun 'couple'.

Examples:

There is a couple of friends waiting for you outside.

Show examples from the web [+]

Open the door, there is a couple of bottles in the side pocket.
Okay, it is really cold outside, and your hair is wet, so please wear this hat, and there is a couple of bucks on this metrocard.
There is a fight in couple of days.
There is a book store a couple of blocks from here.
Hold on, you're thinking of going there? Carlsbad is only a couple of hours away.
Get out of there is going to be a couple of bleak reluct nightmares.
Furthermore, there is a growing number of couples who find it difficult to have their own children or who are affected by fertility problems which cannot be treated.
So there is a couple I want you to interview, the Deskins.
There is a couple in this neighborhood... that is about to get a divorce for a simple misunderstanding.
All I see is a couple of workers unloading some crates.
This is a couple of weeks before you walked into our lives.
This is a couple of days before Katrina struck.
All it is is a couple of facts about his life.
All I need is a couple of bananas.
All you need is a couple of Peters.
Sometimes all you have is a couple of details - red miniskirt, blonde hair.
The Ridge is a couple of klicks north.
All that remain is a couple of hundred gangs... in the hands of some common bandits.
All we need is a couple of witches on the jury, we're home free.
Right now, all I want is a couple of tylenol.

Alternatives:

There is a couple waiting for you outside.

This phrase is correct when referring to multiple couples.

"there are a couple of"

Use 'there are a couple of' when you are talking about more than one couple. The plural verb 'are' matches the plural noun 'couples'.

Examples:

There are a couple of families staying at the resort.

Show examples from the web [+]

But there are a couple of points that I neglected to mention.
Listen, there are a couple of things about kids you have to remember.
Mr President, following the meeting of my group this evening there are a couple of changes which we would like to put to you.
I see no major differences between the positions of the Council and Parliament in respect of this piece of legislation, although there are a couple of points I would like to make.
There are a couple of more... keeps going out.
There are a couple of you that I wouldn't mind killing.
Sergeant, going over the transcript of that man's trial... there are a couple of things I don't get.
Well, OK, there are a couple of things.
Lafferty, there are a couple of things I want you to do for me when I'm gone.
I've gone through your transcripts from the government trial, and there are a couple of areas...
But before we leave, there are a couple of folks I want to say goodbye to.
Now, there are a couple of ways to avoid death.
Listen, there are a couple of books I want you to check out.
But before I get too carried away, there are a couple of not-so-good things about this new MX5.
We're about to open the new property... and there are a couple of characters here I'm not too sure about.
Although there are a couple of bands I can not resist the chance to meet.
But there are a couple of things about that period and about what happened that are really quite important.
Well, I'm betting there are a couple of million-dollar life insurance policies out there that say these two cases are no coincidence.
That very well may be, but... if you drop me, there are a couple of people who are going to be very, very upset.
I actually would have given you a couple more minutes, because there are a couple of points we want to develop, and, of course, clearly it seems that we need connected brains to figure out where this is going.

Alternatives:

There are a couple staying at the resort.

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there is a couple of vs there are a couple of