couldnt

used to say that something was not possible in the past

no pudo, no podía

• couldn't do sth

Collocations couldn't find it · couldn't understand him

• I couldn't sleep last night.

  No pude dormir anoche.

used to say that someone was not able to do something in the past

no pudo, no podía

• couldn't do sth

Collocations couldn't lift it · couldn't run fast enough

• She couldn't climb the mountain.

  Ella no pudo escalar la montaña.

used to say that someone was not willing to do something in the past

no quiso, no quería

• couldn't be bothered to do sth

Collocations couldn't be bothered to answer the phone · couldn't be bothered to go out

• He couldn't be bothered to reply.

  No quiso responder.

used to say that someone did not have the opportunity to do something in the past

no tuvo la oportunidad de, no pudo

• couldn't manage to do sth

Collocations couldn't manage to finish on time · couldn't manage to get there in time

• We couldn't manage to arrive on time.

  No pudimos llegar a tiempo.

used when imagining something that could not happen or be true in the past

no pudo, no podría

• couldn't imagine doing sth

Collocations couldn't imagine living without it · couldn't imagine being in that situation

• I couldn't imagine working there.

  No podría imaginar trabajar allí.

used to suggest that something was not possible or advisable in the past

no pudo, no podía

• couldn't have done sth

Collocations couldn't have known about it · couldn't have been there at that time

• She couldn't have seen the accident.

  No pudo haber visto el accidente.

used to express a hypothesis about something that could not happen or be true in the past

no pudo, no podría

• couldn't have done sth

Collocations couldn't have been more surprised · couldn't have expected it

• He couldn't have been more wrong.

  No pudo haber estado más equivocado.

used to express a preference for something that was not possible in the past

preferiría no, no querría

• couldn't have done sth

Collocations couldn't have gone there · couldn't have chosen that option

• I couldn't have missed the meeting.

  No querría haber faltado a la reunión.