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The most important thing however is the money. What use would it be to us, to have a a mighty stadium but a useless team, because we couldn't afford anything better?
Franz Beckenbauer

Meaning of "couldn't" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF COULDN'T

couldn't  [ˈkʊdənt] play
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WHAT DOES COULDN'T MEAN IN ENGLISH?

English modal verbs

The modal verbs of English are a small class of auxiliary verbs used mostly to express modality. They can be distinguished from other verbs by their defectiveness and by the fact that they do not take the ending -s in the third-person singular. The principal English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would. Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals; these include ought, had better, and dare and need. Verbs which share some but not all of the characteristics of the principal modals are sometimes called "semimodals".

Definition of couldn't in the English dictionary

The definition of couldn't in the dictionary is could not.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH COULDN'T


abundant
əˈbʌndənt
accident
ˈæksɪdənt
confident
ˈkɒnfɪdənt
corrodant
kəˈrəʊdənt
decadent
ˈdɛkədənt
dependent
dɪˈpɛndənt
didn´t
ˈdɪdənt
evident
ˈɛvɪdənt
hadn´t
ˈhædənt
impudent
ˈɪmpjʊdənt
incident
ˈɪnsɪdənt
independent
ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt
pendant
ˈpɛndənt
president
ˈprɛzɪdənt
regardant
rɪˈɡɑːdənt
resident
ˈrɛzɪdənt
rodent
ˈrəʊdənt
shouldn´t
ˈʃʊdənt
student
ˈstjuːdənt
wouldn´t
ˈwʊdənt

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE COULDN'T

could
could do with
could´ve
couldst
coulee
coulibiac
coulibiaca
coulis
coulisse
couloir
coulomb
Coulomb field
Coulomb´s law
coulombic
coulombmeter
coulometer
coulometric
coulometrically
coulometry
coulter

WORDS THAT END LIKE COULDN'T

ain´t
an´t
aren´t
can´t
daren´t
doesn´t
don´t
hain´t
hasn´t
haven´t
isn´t
mightn´t
mustn´t
needn´t
oughtn´t
shan´t
usedn´t
wasn´t
weren´t
won´t

Synonyms and antonyms of couldn't in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «couldn't» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF COULDN'T

Find out the translation of couldn't to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of couldn't from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «couldn't» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

不能
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

no podía
570 millions of speakers

English

couldn´t
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

नहीं कर सकता
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

لم يستطع
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

не мог
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

não podia
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

না পারা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

ne pouvait pas
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Tidak boleh
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

konnte nicht
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

できませんでした
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

하지 수
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Ora bisa
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

có thể không
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

முடியவில்லை
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

शक्य झाले नाही
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

could
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

non poteva
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

nie mógł
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

не міг
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

nu a putut
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

δεν θα μπορούσε να
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

kon nie
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

kunde inte
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

kunne ikke
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of couldn't

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «COULDN'T»

The term «couldn't» is very widely used and occupies the 3.758 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
98
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «couldn't» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of couldn't
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «couldn't».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «COULDN'T» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «couldn't» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «couldn't» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about couldn't

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «COULDN'T»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word couldn't.
1
Adele
Mum loves me being famous! She is so excited and proud, as she had me so young and couldn't support me, so I am living her dream, it's sweeter for both of us. It's her 40th birthday soon and I'm going to buy her 40 presents.
2
Carol Bartz
Everybody on my team - I couldn't do their jobs. I could not. I really mean that. So I figured out early on that the way you're successful is you hire really successful people.
3
Franz Beckenbauer
The most important thing however is the money. What use would it be to us, to have a a mighty stadium but a useless team, because we couldn't afford anything better?
4
Larry Buchanan
I wanted to be a director and producer and writer, but in the early '40's the union wouldn't let you get through the gates. You couldn't get on a crew, or even learn to direct.
5
Candace Cameron Bure
I did a lot of my school on set. Some years I went to a private school for a couple of hours, and then I'd always finish up with a tutor. I couldn't do full days, but I tried to maintain my friendships and some normalcy while doing a show.
6
Claire Cameron
I cried most days working on the first draft. The last scenes were the hardest. I had a feeling where I wanted to end - the exact note - but I couldn't see how to get there. Sarah Murphy, my editor, asked the right questions to help me. I think of 'The Bear' as a hopeful book.
7
Vanessa Carlton
Plus, there were so many pianos in my house, so I couldn't really avoid it.
8
Stephen Collins
But I loved the script to 7th Heaven and couldn't say no. It made me laugh and cry, and I was hooked. I'd love to know who turned it down, because I'm sure at least one other actor did. But I'm glad he did, whoever it was.
9
Im Dong-Hyun
If I couldn't see the colors, now that would be a problem.
10
Gertrude Ederle
The doctors told me my hearing would get worse if I continued swimming, but I loved the water so much, I just couldn't stop.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «COULDN'T»

Discover the use of couldn't in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to couldn't and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Why the Garden Club Couldn't Save Youngstown: The ...
In this book, Sean Safford compares the recent history of Allentown, Pennsylvania, with that of Youngstown, Ohio.
Sean Safford, 2009
2
The Man Who Couldn't Eat
"Based on his Esquire magazine article, The man who couldn't eat is the very personal journey of Jon Reiner's struggle with chronic illness"--Provided by publisher.
Jon Reiner, 2012
3
The Pirate Who Couldn't Say Arrr!
The Pirate Who Couldn't Say 'Arrr!' is an interactive story that teaches everyone how to talk like a pirate.
Angie Neal, 2011
4
The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To
It could be that not sleeping is only part of what Eric's capable of, and the truth is both better and worse than they could ever imagine. From the Trade Paperback edition.
DC Pierson, 2010
5
It Couldn't Just Happen: Knowing the Truth About God's ...
This four-color, Gold Medallion Book Award winner is a perfect tool that offers solid, biblical answers to some of the tough questions kids ask about evolution and our world. “Did Earth begin with a ‘Big Bang’ cosmic explosion?” ...
Lawrence O. Richards, 2011
6
Couldn't Keep It to Myself: Testimonies from Our Imprisoned ...
Yet these are powerful stories of hope and healing, told by writers who have left victimhood behind.
Wally Lamb, Nancy Whiteley, Tabitha Rowley, 2004
7
I Couldn't Love You More
Written from the point of view of a parent to a child and delivers the message that Jesus' love is stronger than any other.
Matt Hammitt, 2012
8
Manifesting Change: It Couldn't Be Easier
Set life’s magic in motion and accelerate the arrival of all that your heart desires with this complete master’s guide to creating the life of your dreams.
Mike Dooley, 2010
9
You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John ...
From the Hardcover edition.
Susannah Gora, 2010
10
The Equation that Couldn't Be Solved: How Mathematical ...
In this lively, engaging book, Mario Livio shows in an easily accessible way how group theory explains the symmetry and order of both the natural and the human-made worlds.
Mario Livio, 2005

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «COULDN'T»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term couldn't is used in the context of the following news items.
1
'They couldn't hear me': Austin Dillon relives moments after Daytona …
3 car came to rest just past the start/finish line of the 2.5-mile track when he couldn't communicate with his crew and family members to tell them ... «FOXSports.com, Jul 15»
2
Nibali attacks the cobbles: 'I couldn't do any more'
But despite his accelerations and bike-handling skills, he couldn't quite crack his rivals and claw back some of the time he has lost to them so ... «velonews.competitor.com, Jul 15»
3
Boulevard director on working with Robin Williams: 'I couldn't have …
It's been almost a year since Robin Williams died, and it's still strange to think that he's no longer with us. He was such a constant and welcome ... «Entertainment Weekly, Jul 15»
4
Can Greece's New Finance Minister Succeed Where Varoufakis …
Wasn't he, in fact, chosen to deliver what Varoufakis couldn't? It's quite likely that Tsakalotos will have to make adjustments to his radical ideas, ... «Huffington Post, Jul 15»
5
Calgary Cab Driver Suspended After Allegedly Telling Men They …
Calgary United Cabs has suspended a driver after he allegedly told two male passengers that they couldn't kiss in his car. Nolan Hill and friend ... «Huffington Post Canada, Jul 15»
6
Nigeria: We Located Chibok Girls but Couldn't Rescue Them - UK …
Kaduna — The outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria Dr. Andrew Pocock yesterday said the abducted Chibok school girls were ... «AllAfrica.com, Jul 15»
7
American Apparel couldn't live with Dov Charney—but can it live …
Change your edition back to menu. Uh oh. American Apparel couldn't live with Dov Charney—but can it live without him? Written by. Marc Bain ... «Quartz, Jul 15»
8
Charles Oliver: It Couldn't Happen Here?
A raid on several massage parlors in Tucson, Ariz., resulted in no arrests, but the cops there decided to release the names of all the customers ... «The Daily Citizen, Jul 15»
9
We couldn't have provided `5-star' facilities to Dawood: Pawar
Pawar was asked why he, as Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 1990s, rejected the Dawood offer of surrender made through veteran lawyer ... «Daily News & Analysis, Jul 15»
10
Hacking Team Couldn't Hack Your iPhone
More than 36 hours after the huge cache of data from Hacking Team's corporate network was dumped online, researchers are continuing to ... «Threatpost, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Couldn't [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/couldnt>. Apr 2024 ».
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