non potevi

you couldn't have

→ non

phrase Uncommon #11,227

you couldn't have Used to say that someone was unable to do something or that something was not possible. Often refers to the past.

IT: Non potevi arrivare prima.

EN: You couldn't have arrived earlier.

Non potevi tagliarle via la faccia e portarmi quella?

Couldn't you have cut her face off and brought it to me?

— 28 anni dopo - Il tempio delle ossa (2026)

Tu non potevi riconoscermi.

You couldn't recognize me.

— La donna che canta (2010)

Non potevi chiedergli di farmelo sapere?

Couldn't you have asked him to let me know?

— Lars e una ragazza tutta sua (2007)

Non potevi fare meglio.

You couldn't have done better.

— Il favoloso mondo di Amélie (2001)

Ehi tu hai vissuto all'estero non potevi andare tu?

Hey, you lived abroad—couldn't you have gone?

— A Taxi Driver (2017)

Non potevi scoprirlo, Maddox.

You couldn’t have found that out, Maddox.

— Mercy - Sotto accusa (2026)

Non potevi trovare un altro lavoro?

Couldn't you find another job?

— Queen (2014)

Non potevi aspettare un giorno?

Couldn't you have waited one day?

— Queen (2014)

Non potevi dirlo e basta?

Couldn't you have just said so?

— 3 Idiots (2009)

Non smetteva di dire che non potevi fare questo a tutti, che non era giusto.

He kept saying that you couldn't do this to everyone, that it wasn't right.

— Memorie di un assassino (2003)

Non potevi guardare la telecamera all'ingresso e aprire?

Couldn't you have checked the camera at the entrance and opened the door?

— L'illusione perfetta - Now You See Me: Now You Don't (2025)

Non potevi stare zitto una volta, era tanto difficile?

Couldn't you have kept quiet for once? Was that so hard?

— I lunedì al sole (2002)

Non potevi venire prima?

Couldn't you have come earlier?

— Andrej Rublëv (1966)

Arlene ha detto che non potevi venire.

Arlene said you couldn't come.

— Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2011)

Non lo sapevo che non potevi cantare.

I didn't know you couldn't sing.

Non potevi bussare?

Couldn't you have knocked?

— Love Letters (2025)

Non potevi essere tu a insegnare chimica!

You couldn't be the one teaching chemistry!

— L'uomo che venne dalla Terra (2007)

Non potevi scegliere qualcosa dalla lista?

Couldn't you have chosen something from the list?

— Laurence Anyways e il desiderio di una donna... (2012)

Non potevi tenere le mani a posto nemmeno quando eravamo bambini.

You couldn't keep your hands to yourself even when we were kids.

— The Brutalist (2024)

Tu non potevi scegliere.

You couldn’t choose.

Non potevi dire a tua figlia che stavi andando a salvare il mondo?

Couldn't you have told your daughter you were going to save the world?

— Interstellar (2014)

Non potevi farlo da solo.

You couldn't do it alone.

— Fight Club (1999)

Non potevi stare attenta?

Couldn't you have been careful?

— Good Bye, Lenin! (2003)

Non potevi venire in taxi e prendere l'auto, dopo?

Couldn't you have come by taxi and picked up the car afterward?

— Storie pazzesche (2014)

Non potevi aspettare?

Couldn't you wait?

— Carandiru (2003)

Non potevi dirmelo prima di andartene?

Couldn't you have told me before you left?

— 3 Idiots (2009)

Bravo, non potevi scegliere di meglio per il regalo di compleanno!

Well done, you couldn't have chosen a better birthday present!

Non potevi saperlo.

You couldn't have known that.

— Va' e vedi (1985)