Approximate values of amount modifiers [duplicate]
This is an area of English that I consistently have trouble with. Consider the following sentences.
- I have a couple of books on my desk.
- I have a bunch of books on my desk.
- I have a number of books on my desk.
- I have a few books on my desk.
- I have several books on my desk.
- I have many books on my desk.
How many books, give or take, do I have on my desk in each case?
[digression: one example of how I tend to get these wrong is the following: not long ago, my wife (native speaker of American English) and me were out with a few friends from out of town. At one point I said "[famous landmark] is only two hundred meters from here", to which my wife replied "no, it's more like a a couple hundred meters".]
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I have a couple of books on my desk.
2, no arguments. A couple is 2. NB: If the person saying it is a couple is wrong (maybe distance), it is unlikely to be more than 4 or 5 of that item / unit. Kudos @Bye
two people or things of the same sort considered together.
-- Google Dictionary -
I have a bunch of books on my desk.
Same as a number - undefined:
a number of things, typically of the same kind, growing or fastened together.
-- Google Dictionary -
I have a number of books on my desk.
Not defined, anywhere from 1 to 1000000...
a quantity or amount
-- Google Dictionary -
I have a few books on my desk.
I go for 3 or 4
a small number of.
-- Google Dictionary. -
I have several books on my desk.
Same as above in my opinion - 3 or 4
more than two but not many.
-- Google Dictionary -
I have many books on my desk.
A lot, more than 10 I would say - but it depends on what you are referring - I have many pets could be 5+, there are many stars in the sky is 1,000,000,000+
a large number of.
-- Google Dictionary.