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Subject-verb agreement
with couple
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The word couple is a collective noun that can pose special problems for subject-verb agreement. The guidelines below will help you use this noun correctly.
Basic verb agreement with collective nouns
First, let's review the standard rule for subject-verb agreement with collective nouns—nouns like group, staff or herd, that represent a unit with many members.
Normally, we use a singular verb when the members of the group are acting in unison, as a unit:
The cast is having a party.
And we use a plural verb when the members are acting individually:
The cast are practising their lines.
Verb agreement with couple
In contrast, with the word couple, it is sometimes necessary to use a plural verb even when the two persons forming the couple are acting in unison:
The couple are being married in a joint Catholic-Jewish ceremony.
[The focus is on the joining of two individuals.]
The young couple next door have bought their first car.
[Because of their, we use a plural verb for consistency.]
Verb agreement with a couple of
The phrase a couple of (as in a couple of boats) is singular in form. But it has come to be considered equal to two and is therefore almost always plural in meaning:
A couple of boats were driven ashore by the storm.
[= Two boats were driven ashore]
However, when using this expression before a quantity representing a sum total (days, kilometres, etc.), you will need a singular verb:
A couple of kilometres is not far to walk.
[= Two kilometres is not far to walk.]
Usage note: The use of a couple (without of) before a plural noun (a couple trees, a couple days, etc.) is a colloquial American usage. To Canadian ears, this expression may sound odd or uneducated. The Canadian Oxford Dictionary calls it "highly informal" and recommends that it be avoided in writing:
Informal: A couple trees have blown down.
Preferred: A couple of trees have blown down.
However, it is correct to omit of when you use a couple before the word more:
Correct: A couple more trees have blown down.
