il ne pouvait

he couldn't

→ il

phrase Uncommon #18,335

he couldn't The negative particle “ne” is often used with another negative word, such as “rien” or “plus”; in some contexts, “pas” is omitted.

FR: Il ne pouvait pas venir hier.

EN: He couldn't come yesterday.

Le frère de Marie est tombé d'un mur et il ne pouvait plus se bouger.

Marie’s brother fell off a wall and could no longer move.

Le frère de Marie est tombé d'un mur et il ne pouvait plus bouger.

Marie’s brother fell off a wall and could no longer move.

Ce quai de la gare lui brûlait les pieds, et il ne pouvait s'en arracher.

The station platform burned beneath his feet, and he couldn’t tear himself away.

Depuis qu'il avait été blessé dans un accident, il ne pouvait plus marcher.

Since he had been injured in an accident, he could no longer walk.

Il ne pouvait tenir sa langue.

He couldn't keep his mouth shut.

Il ne pouvait en être autrement.

It could not be otherwise.

— Senna (2010)

Il ne pouvait s'empêcher d'en rire.

He couldn't help laughing about it.

Il ne pouvait le faire, il est marié.

He couldn't do it, he's married.

— Guerre et Paix (1968)

Il ne pouvait parler.

He couldn't speak.

Mais il ne pouvait rien faire.

But he couldn't do anything.

— Mysterious Object at Noon (2000)

Il ne pouvait qu'avouer.

He had no choice but to confess.

— Full River Red (2023)

Il ne pouvait plus endurer la douleur.

He could no longer endure the pain.

Il ne pouvait plus rester seul.

He could no longer remain alone.

— Rebecca (1940)

Il ne pouvait plus conduire.

He could no longer drive.

— Senna (2010)

Sans argent, il ne pouvait rien faire.

Without money, he could do nothing.

Il ne pouvait d'être que de toi, il n'y a personne d'autre.

It could only have been from you; there’s no one else.

— Mekong Hotel (2012)

Il ne pouvait rien faire de plus.

There was nothing more he could do.

— Amarcord (1973)

Mais il ne pouvait y avoir qu'un seul résultat.

But there could only be one outcome.

— Senna (2010)

Il ne pouvait parler !

He couldn't speak!

Un vieillard nous a couru après en pleurant, il ne pouvait parler.

An old man ran after us crying; he couldn't speak.

— Apocalypse Now (1979)

Il ne pouvait résister.

He couldn't resist.

Il ne pouvait plus se regarder en face.

He could no longer look himself in the face.

— Rise Roar Revolt (RRR) (2022)

Avec sa tête il ne pouvait s'agir d'une femme !

With a head like that, she couldn't possibly have been a woman!

— Vivre (1952)

Il ne pouvait contenir son enthousiasme.

He couldn't contain his enthusiasm.

Il ne pouvait rien entendre.

He couldn't hear anything.