Couldn t Meaning and Definition
Couldn’t
Pronunciation
/kʊdnt/
Part of Speech
Contraction
Definition
A contraction of “could not”, used to express inability or impossibility.
Examples
- I couldn’t attend the meeting due to illness.
- She couldn’t finish the project on time.
Synonyms
- Was unable to
- Could not
Antonyms
- Could
- Was able to
Additional Information
Couldn’t is commonly used in informal writing and spoken language to convey a sense of inability or impossibility. It is often used in conditional sentences to express hypothetical situations.
In formal writing, it is generally recommended to use the full phrase “could not” instead of the contraction.
Couldn’t can also be used to express politeness or tact, as in “I couldn’t agree more” or “I couldn’t help but notice.”
Etymology
The contraction “couldn’t” originated in the 16th century as a shortened form of “could not”. It is derived from the Old English words “cūþ” (could) and “ne” (not).
Usage Notes
Couldn’t is commonly used in informal writing and spoken language, but it is generally not recommended in formal writing.
In conditional sentences, couldn’t is often used to express hypothetical situations, as in “If I couldn’t attend the meeting, I would have called.”
Cultural References
Couldn’t has been used in various song titles, such as “I Couldn’t Live Without You” by Thompson Twins and “I Couldn’t Be Your Friend” by The Vaccines.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- I couldn’t agree more
- I couldn’t care less
- I couldn’t help but
Related Words or Phrases
- Couldn’t care less
- Was unable to
- Wasn’t able to
Collocations
- could hardly / couldn’t hardly
- couldn’t help but
- couldn’t resist
Frequency of Use
Couldn’t is a relatively common contraction in modern English, used frequently in informal writing and spoken language.
Common Misspellings
- couldnt
- culdnt
- kudnt