When to Use Couldn't and Didn't?
For Example, 'Couldn't Do' Means Was Not Able to Do or Was Not Advisable to Do. 'Didn't Do' Means Just That, but Gives No Reason for Not Doing. How Do You Use...
For example, 'couldn't do' means was not able to do or was not advisable to do. 'didn't do' means just that, but gives no reason for not doing.
How do you use couldn t?
- "I couldn't sleep," she said. ...
- I was so excited that I couldn't sleep, so I got up and dressed. ...
- You couldn't see a thing. ...
- "Yes. ...
- If he has custody, she couldn't get the money. ...
- They both couldn't be there all the time. ...
- He's a big horse, but I couldn't make him carry the two of us in that terrain.
Did not Versus could not?
1) Didn't is a simple statement of fact. 2) Couldn't is the past tense of can't and indicates inability (to understand it). In this situation there is not much difference in what the person is telling us. Didn't is more neutral, couldn't may mean (to others) he isn't clever enough to get/understand it.
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