English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
COUPLE or COUPLES?
The ~couples~ arrived at the party together but the wife stayed in the car (nonstandard).
The *couple* arrived at the party together but the wife stayed in the car (standard).
A couple is two persons who are married, living together, or having a sexual relationship.
We need three ~couple~ to begin the opening dance (nonstandard).
We need for *couples* to begin the opening dance (standard).
Couples would mean four or more people who are married, living together, or having a sexual relationship.
GAB
Thank you so much for this