je n'arrivais

I couldn't manage to

→ je

phrase Rare #43,696

I couldn't manage to Usually followed by à and an infinitive: je n'arrivais pas à comprendre means “I couldn't manage to understand.” The examples use the present-tense form je n'arrive, meaning “I can't manage to.”

FR: Je n'arrivais pas à dormir à cause du bruit.

EN: I couldn't manage to sleep because of the noise.

Je n'arrivais plus à dormir.

I couldn't sleep anymore.

— Happy Together (1997)

Je n'arrivais plus à parler.

I could no longer speak.

— Lust, Caution (2007)

Mais je n'arrivais jamais à me décider.

But I could never make up my mind.

— Bacurau (2019)

Je n'arrivais plus à penser.

I couldn't think anymore.

— Salé, Sucré (1994)