he couldn't
He couldn't hold back his tears.
He couldn't get along with his neighbors.
Когда командир выяснил, что его деньги украли новички, он не мог жаловаться.
When the commander found out that the rookies had stolen his money, he couldn't complain.
— Элитный отряд (2007)
Он не мог знать, похитили меня или нет.
He couldn't know whether I had been kidnapped or not.
— Последний император (1987)
У Тома нет такой проблемы, которую он не мог бы уладить самостоятельно.
Tom doesn't have a problem he can't handle on his own.