like: I couldn → →
1389
I was tired last night, but I couldn't sleep. ☊ 
Tối qua tôi mệt nhưng tôi không ngủ được. ☊ 1408
I was tired, but I couldn't sleep. ☊ Tôi mệt nhưng tôi đã không ngủ được. ☊ 1409
I wasn't hungry yesterday. I couldn't nish dinner. ☊ Hôm qua tôi không đói. Tôi đã không ăn hết bữa tối. ☊ 1411
Lakshmi couldn't go to the meeting last week. She was sick. ☊ Lakshmi tuần trước không đi họp được. Cô ấy bị ốm. ☊ 1974
It was very funny. I couldn't stop laughing. ☊ Buồn cười lắm. Tôi đã không thể nào ngừng cười. ☊ 2032
I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn't. ☊ Tôi đã cố gắng mở mắt nhưng tôi không làm được. ☊ 2357
I tried to study, but I couldn't concentrate. ☊ Tôi đã cố học nhưng tôi không tập trung được. ☊ 2442
I couldn't decide which of the two (2) shirts to buy. I liked both. ☊ Tôi không quyết định được trong hai cái áo thì mua cái nào. Tôi thích cả hai. ☊ Even though I was really tired, I couldn't sleep.'> 2655 Even though I was really tired, I couldn't sleep.'>
I couldn't sleep despite being very tired. > Even though I was really tired, I couldn't sleep. Even though I was really tired, I couldn't sleep.'> ☊ Tôi không ngủ được mặc dù tôi rất mệt. Cho dù tôi thực sự mệt, tôi vẫn không ngủ được. ☊ admit to sb that...: I couldn't admit to my parents that I was finding the course difficult. ☊ admit ☊
'It's terrible.' 'I couldn't agree more!' (= I completely agree) ☊ agree ☊
I couldn't give the programme my undivided attention. ☊ attention ☊
It was so crowded I couldn't get to the bar. ☊ bar ☊
control yourself: I was so furious I couldn't control myself and I hit him. ☊ control ☊
I couldn't stop coughing. ☊ cough ☊
I couldn't hear what they were saying. ☊ could ☊
Sorry, I couldn't get any more. ☊ could ☊
'Have some more cake.' 'Oh, I couldn't, thank you (= I'm too full).' ☊ could ☊
It was dark outside and I couldn't see much. ☊ dark ☊
I couldn't eat another thing (= I have had enough food). ☊ eat ☊
I couldn't get through—the line's engaged. ☊ engaged ☊
I couldn't see any familiar faces in the room. ☊ familiar ☊
I couldn't speak for laughing. ☊ for ☊
get sb/sth to do sth: I couldn't get the car to start this morning. ☊ get ☊
I tried calling you several times but I couldn't get through. ☊ get through (to sb) ☊
I couldn't hear anything. ☊ hear ☊
I couldn't help it if the bus was late (= it wasn't my fault). ☊ sb can (not) help (doing) sth, sb can not help but do sth ☊
I couldn't live in a hot country (= one which has high average temperatures). ☊ hot ☊
I didn't enjoy the book because I couldn't identify with any of the main characters. ☊ identify with sb ☊
I couldn't follow the talk because he kept jumping about from one topic to another. ☊ jump ☊
I couldn't see who was speaking, but I knew the voice. ☊ know ☊
The show was hilarious—I couldn't stop laughing. ☊ laugh ☊
When I saw the exam questions my mind just went blank (= I couldn't remember anything). ☊ mind ☊
notice (that)...: I couldn't help noticing (that) she was wearing a wig. ☊ notice ☊
They made me an offer I couldn't refuse. ☊ offer ☊
My parents lent me the money. Otherwise, I couldn't have afforded the trip. ☊ otherwise ☊
I couldn't concentrate, presumably because I was so tired. ☊ presumably ☊
I couldn't believe it when I heard the news. I'd only seen him the previous day. ☊ previous ☊
I couldn't read what she had put. ☊ put ☊
It's a great book. I couldn't put it down. ☊ put sth down ☊
I couldn't resist the opportunity to meet a real live celebrity. ☊ real ☊
I couldn't see my regular doctor today. ☊ regular ☊
resist (sth): I finished the cake. I couldn't resist it. ☊ resist ☊
'When will it be finished?' 'I couldn't say (= I don't know).' ☊ say ☊
see to do sth: It was getting dark and I couldn't see to read. ☊ see ☊
I couldn't get a signal on my cell phone. ☊ signal ☊
I couldn't understand a single word she said! ☊ single ☊
I couldn't sleep because of the noise. ☊ sleep ☊
I tried to call you but I couldn't get through. ☊ through ☊
I couldn't sleep because the bed was so uncomfortable. ☊ uncomfortable ☊
I couldn't bear to witness their suffering. ☊ witness ☊
I couldn't work out where the music was coming from. ☊ work sth out ☊