"A couple was talking about its children". Is this correct?
No. "A couple" is plural (another way of saying "two people who are together, usually attached emotionally"), so you have to say:But the original statement is grammatically correct. Isn't it?
A couple were talking about their children.
A couple was talking about their children.
As ems noted 'couple' can be regarded as a singular unit. Here are some examples: of 'couple was': http://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?q="couple+was"&l=0&t=0&ffo=false&findid=-1&ff=
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/couple“Are they a couple?” “No, they are just good friends.”
I'm afraid I reject the singular, at least insofar as two people are concerned. I can't really think of an exception even.
My wife and I were somewhat chagrined a couple of days ago when a stranger emerging from a building we were heading into said "you're a cute couple." Singular, right?
I think GS was referring to the indefinite article before 'cute couple' rather than the form of the verb.
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