1、表示时间不同:couldn't代表的是过去的时间,表示以前某种情况不能发生或者某种行动无法完成。例如:“I couldn't finish my homework last night”。而can't则代表的是现在或者将来的时间。它指的是当前或者未来某种事情是不可能发生的。例如:“I can't play basketball”。
2、语气方面:在请求语句里,couldn't比can't较委婉。例如:“I couldn't disagree with you more”。
can't例句:
1、I can't eat any more; I'm full up.
我不能再吃了,我已经很饱了。
2、I don't want to leave, but I can't go on.
我不想离开,但我继续不下去了。
3、I can't drink any more.
我不能再喝了。
4、Don't tell me you can't remember.
不要告诉我你记不起来了。
couldn't例句:
1、Jamie e-mailed me to say he couldn't come
杰米给我发了电子邮件,说他不能来了。
2、I couldn't imagine why he would want to be alone with me
我想象不出为什么他会想和我独处。
3、They put a screen in front of me so I couldn't see what was going on.
他们在我面前竖了一面屏风,所以我看不到发生了什么事情。
4、I couldn't get back to sleep.
我再也睡不着了。