Bělíková Zuzana The Modal Verb Could and its Equivalents in Translation

6.2.2
 
Couldn’t
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The subcorpus: American Fiction after 1950 
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The occurrences of couldn’t: 1.585 
 
There are 1.585 occurrences of couldn’t in the subcorpus, which is the most frequent 
expression I have searched for. I mix all sentences in the subcorpus to create an acceptable 
sample of 100 statements. Couldn’t conveys modality in 39 of them (39%), which is less 
than in the case of could not. 
(207) “They couldn't grow if they couldn't advertise," Vittoria said, her legs and mind 
keeping perfect pace. (BAD) 
 
„Když se nemohli propagovat, nemohli růst,” konstatovala Vittoria, která s ním 
držela krok nohama i mozkem. 
 
(208) He couldn’t have known that he would be leaving before Ruth was awake. (IWOY) 
 
Nemohl vědět, že odejde, než se Ruth probudí. 
 
(209) Danilo didn't know these details; he couldn't know. (GP) 
Danilo tyto neznal, ani nemohl znát. 
 
I find the same cases of different equivalents of couldn’t as they are in the chapter about 
could not. Couldn’t is sometimes omitted and replaced by the past form of a certain full 
verb. The phrases like be not able to or do/did not manage are sometimes used. 
(210) I couldn’t think of a single copier in a corner. (GSL) 
Nevybavoval jsem si jedinou kopírku zastrčenou do rohu. 
 
[I didn’t think of a single copier in a corner.] 

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Philosophical Faculty, Palacký University Olomouc 
62 
(211) Jeremy smiled, though she probably couldn't see it. (LLS) 
Jeremy se usmál.Té dívce to zřejmě ještě vůbec nedošlo. 
[Jeremy smiled, though the girl probably didn’t see it.] 
(212) I couldn’t take it in, you know? (BC) 
Víš, nedokázal jsem se s tím smířit. 
[I wasn’t able to take it in, you know?] 
(213) If I couldn't find Hector at the Drake & Sweeney office, then we were out of 
luck. (GSL) 
 
Pokud se mi nepodaří najít Hectora v kancelářích Drakea & Sweeneyho, mám 
prostě smůlu. 
[If I didn’t manage to find Hector at the Drake & Swenney office …] 
When I compare could not with couldn’t, the different equivalents of them are the same
in Czech translation but couldn’t seems to have less examples that give modality into
the meaning.