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could not

/kʊd nɒt/

/kʊd nɑt/

Translations

couldverb

could not

/kʊd/

(modal; past form of can)

Synonyms

was able to

were able to

might be able to

was capable of

had the ability to

managed to

would be able to

had the capacity to

cannotverb

could not

Past Simple

could not

Past Simple

could not

Past Participle

cannot

Gerund

/ˈkænɒt/

/ˈkænɑt/

(modal)

Antonyms

couldverb

Used to make a polite request.

Could you pass me the paper?

Used to make an assumption.

You could be right, but we need to doublecheck everything.

cannotverb

Used as an auxiliary verb to indicate inability, impossibility, or lack of permission to do something.

She cannot swim, so she stayed on the shore.