ENGLISH
REFERENCE

one or two

fixed phr..
A2 Elementary Oxford

fixed phr.. A small, inexact number of things, usually meaning 'a few'.

fixed phr.. A fixed quantifier phrase indicating a small, indefinite number, functionally equivalent to 'a few' or 'a couple of'.


SIMPLE

I have one or two questions for you.

CONTEXTUAL

She said she would call back in one or two hours, after her meeting finishes.

COMPLEX

Although the manuscript was largely complete, the author still wanted to revise one or two key paragraphs for clarity.

Usage

This phrase is always followed by a plural countable noun.

Teaching tip

Teach this as a common, natural-sounding alternative to 'a few', especially in spoken English when giving a casual estimate.

Pitfall

I'll take one or two cookie.I'll take one or two cookies.Because the phrase implies a number that could be more than one, it must be followed by a plural noun.

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