Example sentences of "could n't " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | It was the eternal noise at that bend in the river , but on a normal day it could n't be heard here . |
| 2 | He was in a bit of a state , I could n't believe it . |
| 3 | I could n't afford the fares into town as well as a reasonable seat for sitting in . |
| 4 | I could n't understand why I 'd not been killed when there were so many others who … |
| 5 | I had an alarming reading for an Agatha Christie film where I was given several sheets of script to sight read without any logical link up in the scenes being read and no-one to read with , except an office assistant who could n't read dialogue . |
| 6 | It was the part of Sabbo in Rope ; mind you , I had been offered two leading roles at other reps that could n't give me the vital Equity card — so Sabbo it was . |
| 7 | Well , I was one of the people who could n't do it even if I was n't lifting a heavy weight . |
| 8 | In fact I refused to believe it and went back to check , feeling ‘ they could n't mean me ’ . |
| 9 | I could n't believe my ears but she repeated it : I realized I had not properly understood my own needs . |
| 10 | He tried to hit me , kept pummelling me with his podgy fists , but he could n't summon up the necessary enthusiasm . |
| 11 | When we met at the Bacon show and I smiled at him he smiled back at once , then remembered and tried to scowl , but could n't and we both burst out laughing . |
| 12 | I knew what I wanted , but I could n't find it . |
| 13 | ‘ From the moment I picked up this book to the moment I put it down , ’ wrote GM , ‘ I could n't stop laughing . |
| 14 | Hitting me with her little fists , but I could n't get the smile off my face . |
| 15 | For some reason I could n't , though I could see it was that which infuriated her more than anything . |
| 16 | I wanted to but I could n't . |
| 17 | Yesterday I could n't have done it . |
| 18 | Could n't have picked up the pen and opened the notebook and faced the blank page . |
| 19 | But he could n't help . |
| 20 | I could n't take London any more , he said . |
| 21 | He could n't resist adding : Helped to the grave by you . |
| 22 | I told him I could n't stop him , he was a free agent . |
| 23 | I always figured people became chefs when they could n't do anything else . |
| 24 | You certainly could n't accuse women chefs of lacking stamina . |
| 25 | ‘ But I woke up in the middle of the night and could n't get back to sleep , so I decided to bake a cake , after all . |
| 26 | ‘ Oh , you could n't have , ’ Mrs Yardley protested . |
| 27 | ‘ Well , all I know is , I could n't get back to sleep , ’ said Mrs Feather wearily . |
| 28 | She could n't face them a minute longer . |
| 29 | ‘ I could n't find the words to tell Dorothy , so I said it was a wrong number . |
| 30 | I could n't stand it . |